Motorless magnetic stirrer (Lab equipment)

Last crawled date: 1 year, 11 months ago

This is a re-imagining of the magnetic stirrer device often used in chemistry labs and research firms. This model, and the beaker that was added for effect, were created in OnShape, the recently released cloud-based free-for-personal-use CAD software. Onshape assembly viewable here: https://cad.onshape.com/documents/c649e8fcbae96ed8b4a4eb04/w/3e6845b506e9a1a1ad5a1369/e/eac1e420c3372ff95e050421

Enhancements over conventional motorless magnetic stirrers:

* Added a ring of LEDs in a central inset section of the beaker platform, to illuminate the liquid from below and make it easier to examine sedimentation and particulate matter in the beaker.

* Added a capacitive touch hermetically sealed glass control surface, thus making this a fully sealed unit, protected from any spilled liquids getting inside.

* A challenge with motorless magnetic stirrers is that the electromagnetic coils inside make no discernible noise, unlike the buzzing of the classic motorized units during operation. This sometimes leaves some doubt about whether the unit is working at all, without putting a stirrer bar on it.

* Thus, added a tiny, bearing-mounted magnetic compass needle into the central indented space, protected by glass. The needle will spin at the same speed as the stirrer magnetically "stirs": A low tech indicator that's also a bit of fun!