January 25, 2013 - January 31, 2013

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January 30, 2013

After a few frustrating weeks trying to figure out how to make the thermocouple, op amp, DAQ, and LabView program to work together I have admitted defeat (at least temporarily). I have made two thermitsors and have housed them in professional looking metal shells (with the help of Brendan). They have been tested, and work relatively well. I may need to calibrate them once the epoxy on them has dried. I still plan to work on getting the thermocouples up and running but for the time being at least we have a reliable way to read temperature and report that temperature to the program in LabView. I think that is the most important thing right now, especially since we have a readiness review from J-Lab on the 7th of February.

For the rest of the day today I plan to go over the LabView program again and make it as efficient as possible.

I would also like to remind Jim that we need to have a schedule for both Jon and Leanna.

Also, I should remind Dr. Jones and Jim that items need to be ordered (ventilation items, light covers, and 22 awg solid red and black wire).


To-Do List for the Next Week

  • Clean and keep clean room 405
  • Test the thermistors; Make a spreadsheet with recorded values and known temperature to compare. Maybe use the tank in real time to test everything...
  • Work on fusing fibers as soon as Jim has put the splicing unit together.
  • Iron out the LabView program
  • Work on the thermocouple and op-amp when I have time (Unless Dr. Jones would like me to finish it ASAP).
  • Come up with a plan for student workers as soon as the opportunity presents itself.


  • clean
  • Take pictures for presentation on Monday
  • Switch with someone for next Thursday if at all possible
  • Hyperlink to work progress


Personnel Training

  • responsible conduct
  • chemical health and safety
  • msds sheets
  • Standard operating procedure
  • supervision of at least one shift
  • Jim doing spot checks
  • students never unsupervised
  • I report to Jim


  • Have a training checklist so that we can look and see, at a glance, who has taken what training courses and who has been trained on what equipment in the lab.