Low-Cost Rheometer
Introduction: Low-Cost Rheometer
The purpose of this instructable is to create a low cost rheometer to experimentally find the viscosity of a fluid. This project was created by a team of Brown University undergrad and graduate students in the class Vibration of Mechanical Systems.
A rheometer is a lab device used to measure the viscosity of fluids (how thick or sticky a fluid is -- think water vs. honey). 707
There are certain rheometers that can measure the viscosity of fluids by measuring the response of a vibrating system submerged in a fluid. In this low-cost rheometer project, we created a vibrating system from a sphere and spring attached to a speaker to measure the response at different frequencies. From this response curve, you can find the viscosity of the fluid.
Supplies
Materials Needed:
Housing Assembly:
* Particle Board (11’’ W x 9’’ H) (here) $1.19
* 12 x 8-32 x 3/4'' Hex head screws (here) $9.24 tot
* 12 x 8-32 Hex nut (here) $8.39
* 4 x 6-32 x ½’’ Hex head screw (here) $9.95
* 4 x 6-32 Hex nut (here) $5.12
* 9/64'' Allen Key (here) $5.37
Electronics:
* 12V Power Supply (here) $6.99
* Amplifier (here) $10.99
* Aux Cable (here) $7.54
* Jumper Wire (see below)
* Alligator Clips (here) $5.19
* Speaker (here) $4.25
* Screw Driver (here) $5.99
Spring & Sphere Set Up:
+ 3D printer resin (variable)
+ 2 x accelerometers (we used these) $29.90
+ 10 x female-male rainbow cables (here) $4.67
+ 12 x male-male rainbow cables (here) $3.95
+ Arduino Uno (here) $23.00
+ USB 2.0 Cable Type A to B (here) $3.95
+ Bread board (here) $2.55
+ Compression Springs (we used these) ??
+ 2 x Custom Connectors (3D printed)
+ 2 x ⅜’’-16 Hex nuts (here) $1.18
+ 4 x 8-32 Set Screws (here) $6.32
* 4 x ¼’’-20 Hex nut (Aluminum) (here) $0.64
* 2 x ¼’’-20’’ Threaded Rod (Aluminum) (here) $11.40
* 7/64'' Allen Key
* 5/64'' Allen Key
* 4 x 5x2mm 3/16’’x1/8’’ Screws (here) $8.69
Other
* Plastic Cup (here) $6.99
* Liquid to test viscosity (we tested karo syrup, vegetable glycerine, Hershey’s chocolate syrup)
TOTAL COST: $183.45*
*does not include 3D printer resin or liquid
Tools
* Laser Cutter
* 3D printer
Software Needed
* MATLAB
* Arduino
Files and Code:
* Adobe Illustrator file for the housing assembly (Rheometer_Housing.ai)
* Speaker Controller GUI (ENGN1735_2735_Vibrations_Lab_GUI_v2.mlapp)
* Arduino Rheometer File (rheometer_project.ino)
* Sphere mesh files (cor_0.9cmbody.stl and cor_1.5cmbody.stl)
* Custom Connector ASCII geometry file (Connector_File.step)
* MATLAB Code 1 (ff_two_signal.m)
* MATLAB Code 2 (accelprocessor_foruser.m)
* MATLAB Code 3 (rheometer_foruser.m)
Step 1: Part 1: Set Up
How to setup the experimental platform.
Step 2: ​3D Print and Laser Cut All Parts (custom Connectors, Spheres, and Housing)
Step 3: Connect the Electronics As Shown Below
Important to note: Do not plug the power supply into the outlet until all steps in this section are completed! ALWAYS UNPLUG THE POWER SUPPLY WHEN MAKING ANY CHANGES.
To start, make sure the amplifier is placed with the knob facing away. 611