1. How to get one
IMPORTANT: Due to the supply bottleneck of electronic parts, we are currently re-design and re-testing LITOS. The functionality will not change, but it will take some weeks until the new version is available to order. In the meantime, you can contact Thomas Höhener (check here for email) to find an individual solution.
To get a LITOS yourself, you need to order the following parts:
Required:
- Assembled LITOS PCB as control unit for the LED matrix. Can be ordered pre-build (not yet available). Alternatively, it can be ordered from a PCB manufacturer of your choice.
- RGB LED Matrix 32x64 3 mm (e.g. Digi-Key or AliExpress)
- Power adapter (>=4A, 5V), 2.54 mm barrel jack connector (e.g., Digi-Key: Adapter with the right Cabel)
- Micro USB cable for initial flashing (e.g. Digi-Key)
Recommended:
- 4x Mini Magnet feet for LITOS' control unit. They can be ordered for example on AliExpress. The corresponding screws (4x M3, 6 mm) must be purchased separately.
- Longer 16-pin flat ribbon cable (a short one is often delivered with the RGB matrix) so that the RGB matrix can be place in the incubator while LITOS stays outside the incubator.
- Longer power cable (a short one is often delivered with the RGB matrix) for the same reason.
Optional:
- Even though the multiwell plates can already be aligned with the basic configuration, we provide files to create (3D-printer / CNC-milling) plexiglass masks to align one or two well plates on the LED matrix.
Parts of LITOS system, namely LITOS PCB, RGB LED Matrix, power adapter and cables for power and signal connection between LITOS PCB and LED Matrix.
It is recommended to directly order a pre-built LITOS PCB. However, sometimes (e.g., delivery time, availability of parts, hardware changes) this is not possible and LITOS needs to be ordered "manually".
The bill of material (BOM), as well as the Gerber file needed for ordering LITOS from a PCB manufacturer, like PCBWay, can be found in the folder Hardware. One LITOS consists of 24 unique parts, 42 SMT Pads, and 11 through-hole components.
to give you more information about the ordering process, please find below a step-by-step guide to ordering from PCBWay. This guide may be used as a generic guide for other manufacturers as well. We are not affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with PCBWay.
On the start-page, you enter the bord dimensions (88.39 x 68.35 mm), select a 2 layers board with 1.6 mm thickness and press on Quote Now
Next you confirm that you have indeed selected a 2-layers board.
Here you can choose the color of your PCB. We love black PCBs, but you are free to pick a color of your choice. Please pay attention, that for some colours you must pay a surcharge.
The surface finish is the coating between the components on the PCB and the bare board. For our application, this option does not really matter, you can even tick the HASL to ENIG option, if you want (ENIG is superior to HASL, but we don't require it).
We took this extra-option, as we like our PCBs as neat and clean as possible.
Next you select that you take their assembly service, meaning that they will populate the LITOS PCB with all the required components.
Our board does not contain sensitive parts and we accept component alternatives made in China, as already all the components can be sourced from LCSC. The number of parts can be filled in according to the screenshot.
After pressing on ordering, we can upload the Gerber files, that you can find in the Hardware folder of our GitHub repository. Please upload the zipped gerber files (LITOS_rev4_gerber.zip), the part list (BOM) that comes in form of a spreadsheet file (LITOS_v4 BOM.xlsx), and the centroid file (LITOS-all.pos).
*Please pay attention that the prices indicated on this page are without the required components. After a quick check on PCBWay’s side, the prices will be updated. From our experiences, one assembled LITOS PCB is in the price range of about $30 - $40.