openQCM Q-1 User manual

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openQCM Q-1 User’s Guide
openQCM Q-1 Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation Monitoring
based on Scalar Network Analyzer
authors: openQCM Team
version: 1.1
date: OCT-2018

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Index
Intro...............................................................................................................................................................3
Sensing Principle...........................................................................................................................................3
Electronic Hardware .....................................................................................................................................5
Teensy.......................................................................................................................................................5
Frequency Synthesizer AD9851 DDS/DAC ................................................................................................5
Gain and Phase Detector AD8302.............................................................................................................5
How to Setup openQCM Q-1 Sensor Module...............................................................................................6
How to Finely Check the Sealing of the Sensor Module...........................................................................7
Software GUI Python version 1.1..................................................................................................................8
Version History..........................................................................................................................................8
Description............................................................................................................................................8
Requirements........................................................................................................................................9
Installation Guide......................................................................................................................................9
Usage.........................................................................................................................................................9
openQCM Q-1 GUI Description...............................................................................................................10
Calibration Procedure.............................................................................................................................11
Measurement Procedure........................................................................................................................12
Temperature, Voltage and Material Warning Notice.................................................................................14
Temperature...........................................................................................................................................14
Voltage....................................................................................................................................................14
Material...................................................................................................................................................14
openQCM Open Source Device Important Notice......................................................................................15
FCC Warning............................................................................................................................................15
Important Notice ........................................................................................................................................16

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Intro
openQCM device is released as a scientific open source instrument, and it is intended solely for use for
SCIENTIFIC, RESEARCH and DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION, DEMONSTRATION, OR EVALUATION
PURPOSES and is not considered to be a finished end-product fit for general consumer use.
Sensing Principle
openQCM Q-1 is the new Quartz Crystal Microbalance instrument capable of measuring simultaneously
frequency and dissipation variations. The instrument is therefore capable of measuring both variations
in mass and in the viscoelastic properties of the material on the surface of the quartz crystal
The electronic mainly consists of a scalar network analyzer, the main block diagram is showed in figure.
The scheme of measurement follows the principle of passive interrogation of the quartz sensor by
sweeping around the resonance frequency. The actuation signal is generated using the AD9851
DDS/DAC frequency synthesizer and the output signal is read by AD8302 gain and phase detector, which
can measure both the magnitude ratio (gain) across the quartz crystal and the phase difference between
the actuation and transmitted signal. The analysis of the gain curve allows the characterization of the
sensor by measuring simultaneously the resonance frequency and quality factor. The main advantage of

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the scheme of measurement is the possibility to measure quartz sensor parameters in isolation without
an external circuity influence.
openQCM Q-1 electronic consists mainly of two boards: i) the main board features the network analyzer
and Teensy microcontroller, and ii) the secondary board which is inserted in the fluidic cell, which
features the electro-mechanical connections with the quartz crystal sensor using pogo-pin and also a
temperature sensor which is mounted as close as possible to the quartz crystal sensor, in order to
measure the temperature inside the fluidic cell.

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Electronic Hardware
Teensy
The openQCM Q-1 PCB is designed to use a Teensy 3.6 development board
https://www.pjrc.com/teensy/index.html
which is a powerful arduino-compatible microcontroller, featuring a 32 bit 180 MHz ARM Cortex-M4
processor developed by Paul Stoffregen. The development board has a lot of functionalities, the most
interesting one is the analog input ADC with an usable resolution of 13 bits
https://www.pjrc.com/teensy/techspecs.html
It means that over the full-scale range of 3.3 volt it is possible to measure input voltage variations with a
resolution 0.4 mV/bits.
Frequency Synthesizer AD9851 DDS/DAC
The AD9851 DDS/DAC frequency synthesizers
http://www.analog.com/media/en/technical-documentation/data-sheets/AD9851.pdf
is an integrated device which uses DDS technology for generating an analog output sine wave when it is
referenced to a stable clock source. In this application the AD9851 was connected to a 30MHz standard
clock oscillators. The DDS can generate a sine wave with frequency from DC up to 72 MHz, with an
output tuning resolution of about 0.04 Hz when clocked at 180 MHz. The output frequency is controlled
by the digital pin W_CLK and S_LD using a defined protocol of communication.
The wide –range frequency output capability of AD9851 ( 0 –72 MHz) enables to interrogate the quartz
sensor not only at the fundamental frequency but also to the higher mode of vibration, which are
supposed to be more suitable for biosensing applications, mainly because they have less drift and less
environmental effects.
Gain and Phase Detector AD8302
The AD8302 Gain and Phase Detector
www.analog.com/media/en/technical-documentation/data-sheets/AD8302.pdf
is capable of measure simultaneously both the magnitude ratio, defined as gain, and phase difference
between two signals, from low frequencies up to 2.7 GHz. The AD8302 measures the gain loss through
the quartz crystal, referenced to the input signal, and simultaneously the phase lag between the
response and actuation signal.

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How to Setup openQCM Q-1 Sensor Module
1. The sensor module has a pair of pogo pins to ensure connection to the quartz crystal sensor. The
first couple is suitable for 14 mm diameter quartz crystal one sided contacting
2. Insert the quartz crystal into the sensor module housing, making sure that the electrodes on the
rear surface of the quartz are in contact with both pogo pins
3. Close the sensor module with the cover, while the closing lever is positioned on the min

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4. Turn the lever counterclockwise, in the direction of maximum, to ensure the seal of the sensor
module
How to Finely Check the Sealing of the Sensor Module
•Connect the tubes to the flow cover.
•Connect one tube to the liquid reservoir (inlet) and the other tube to a syringe / pump (outlet)
•Aspirate the liquid with the syringe / pump and stop before the liquid enters the quartz
chamber.
oif the liquid remains stationary at the same level, the seal of the chamber is guaranteed.
Otherwise:
othe seal of the chamber is not guaranteed: fine turn the lever counterclockwise, in the
direction of maximum, to ensure the seal of the sensor module.
The machining process of the openQCM sensor module is carried out using 3D printing technology, so
that the fine adjustment of the sensor module measuring cell can depend on the specific device used.
Once the adjustment lever has been positioned in the appropriate working position, it is recommended
to keep its position fixed during the measurement cycle.
It may be possible to observe frequency drifts because the cover presses too much on the
quartz surface of the quartz. You can solve this by finely turning the lever clockwise in the
direction of minimum.
PLEASE BE CAREFUL ! Turning clockwise the lever too far towards the minimum may
cause the cell to be flooded because it loses sealing.
It may be possible to observe tilting of the top cover, which can prevent the
measurement cell from being sealed properly. Gently press on the top cover to check that
it does not tilt, otherwise sealing may not be guaranteed. If the top cover tilts, it is
suggested that you turn the adjustment lever anti-clockwise, in the maximum direction, to
prevent the top cover from tilting.

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Software GUI Python version 1.1
Version History
Name: openQCM Q-1 GUI
Version:1.1
Programming Language: Python
Author: openQCM Team
Supporting and Powering the openQCM project: Novaetech S.r.l
Description:
An open-source Python application, to display, process and store data in real-time from the openQCM Q-
1Device. The main functionality is the real-time monitoring of frequency and dissipation variations of a
quartz crystal microbalance through the analysis of the resonance curve. The application includes
internal and external packages.
Intended Audience: Science/Research/Engineering

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Software Development: User Interfaces
Requirements:
- Python 3.6.5
- Ananconda 4.5.11
Packages:
- PyQt5
- PySerial 3.4
- PyQtGraph 0.10.0
- progressbar 2.5
Other used internal packages:
- multiprocessing, numpy, scipy, setuptools, io, platform, sys, enum, argparse, cvs, time, datetime,
logging, pywavelets
Installation Guide
Download openQCM Q-1 Python application version 1.1 here:
https://openqcm.com/shared/q-1/openQCM_Q-1_py_v1.1.zip
Using Anaconda (Windows, macOS, Linux)
1. download and install Anaconda3 for Python 3.6 version Anaconda3-5.1.0
https://repo.continuum.io/archive/
2. Open anaconda prompt (windows) or terminal (macOS and Linux) and type:
conda install pyqtgraph pyserial
python -m pip install --upgrade pip
python -m pip install --upgrade h5py
pip install progressbar
Linux
1. Open a terminal and type:
sudo apt-get install python3-pyqt5 python3-pyqtgraph python3-serial
2. Then, type:
sudo pip install progressbar
Usage
1. Launch anaconda prompt
2. Browse to the openQCM Q-1 python software main directory
…/openQCM_Q-1_py_v1.1/OPENQCM/
3. Start the application main GUI by typing the command
pyhton –m openQCM

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openQCM Q-1 GUI Description
The main GUI of openQCM Q-1 Python software (version 1.0) is showed in figure. The detailed
description of the functions is given below:
Button command:
•START: start a continuous measurement procedure OR start the calibration procedure
•STOP: stop the acquisition procedure OR stop the calibration procedure
Drop-down menu
1. Select measurement / calibration mode
2. Available COM port (note the software shows only the port connected to the device)
3. Frequency drop-down menu: select the working frequency (fundamental and overtones)
Radio Button
4. Flag Txt export sweep file radio button to log data for each sweep cycle of the measurement
(raw data)
Real Time Plots
5. Amplitude /Phase displays the amplitude and phase curve during the sweep procedure
6. Temperature: displays the current value of the temperature, measured by sensor embedded on
the fluidic cell
7. Resonance Frequency and Dissipation real time chart simultaneously displays the current
frequency and dissipation value, calculated at the end of each sweep procedure