1.

cut and fold

Cut along the outer edge. Fold up or
2. make a diffraction grating from a DVD-R
A diffraction grating is a series of close
3. attach to a webcam, phone, or laptop
The spectrometer can be mounted on a
down as indicated by the dotted and slits that disperse light. camera phone, laptop, or with the help of
dashed lines. All labels should stay on the a box, attached to a webcam. Line up
rainbow
outside. carefully so that the rainbow is in the
middle of the image, and tape down firmly
a)
ideal DVD
To make one from a DVD-R, split it into so that the spectrometer stays rigid.
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CERN Open Hardware License 1.1

quarters, peel off the reflective layer

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PublicLaboratory.org

and trim a small clean square out of the

Assembly instructions and usage at:
transparent layer. Try to pick a clean
fold down piece without fingerprints or scratches.
PublicLaboratory.org/wiki/foldable-spec

SpectralWorkbench.org a) cut

Mini-spectrometer
Public Lab Foldable

b) peel apart
c) trim
up

reading spectra
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Every molecule emits only certain

b) CERN Open Hardware License 1.1
PublicLaboratory.org
To work as a diffraction grating the
frequencies of light, and under the right
conditions a spectrometer can detect
DVD-R must be placed so that its these as rainbow bands. With two clear
Assembly instructions and usage at:
PublicLaboratory.org/wiki/foldable-spec grating is vertical, making a horizontal bands, the mercury in compact
spectral rainbow. Tape your DVD piece fluorescents makes calibration easy.
SpectralWorkbench.org

to the inside of the spectrometer’s violet indigo blue green yellow orange red
door, then tape or glue the door closed.

spectra
Except for the diffraction grating door, glue
or tape all flaps down onto the outside. rainbow

back view with

door open

intensity
front view with
door open frequency
(in nanometers) 546
tape down close door 436 mercury

fold down
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CERN Open Hardware License 1.1

PublicLaboratory.org

fold down

Assembly instructions and usage at:

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PublicLaboratory.org/wiki/foldable-spec
ld
up

SpectralWorkbench.org
fold up
1 in x 1 in

Mini-spectrometer
Public Lab Foldable
up
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up
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 fold down

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CERN Open Hardware License 1.1
PublicLaboratory.org
fold down

Assembly instructions and usage at:

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PublicLaboratory.org/wiki/foldable-spec

d l
up
SpectralWorkbench.org

fold up
1 in x 1 in

Mini-spectrometer
Public Lab Foldable

up
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up
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fold down
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CERN Open Hardware License 1.1

PublicLaboratory.org
fold down

Assembly instructions and usage at:

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PublicLaboratory.org/wiki/foldable-spec
d l
up

SpectralWorkbench.org
fold up
1 in x 1 in

Mini-spectrometer
Public Lab Foldable
up
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up
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