Koch Lab:Publications/Supplemental info for MEMS force sensor gravitational calibration
Supplemental information for "Micromachined piconewton force sensor for biophysics investigations"
Steve Koch 16:58, 8 March 2010 (EST): We developed and used a gravitational-based calibration method to calibrate the spring used in the APL report. At the time (2006), we expected to pursue the work a bit further and write up a methods paper describing it further. However, all of the co-authors on the paper left their groups at Sandia shortly thereafter, and we were unable to take further data. To at least have a small benefit, I'm going to post the details of the method here.
Information for original publication:
- Micromachined piconewton force sensor for biophysics investigations
- Steven J. Koch, Gayle E. Thayer, Alex D. Corwin, and Maarten P. de Boer
- Appl. Phys. Lett. 89, 173901 (2006); doi:10.1063/1.2364118 (3 pages)
Description of method for calibrating spring constant via gravitational force on NIST-traceable size standards
1. Affix Polysciences “Megabead NIST Traceable Particle Size Standard 30.0 Micron” (Catalog #64170 http://www.polysciences.com ) microspheres to the sensor, using same method as for magnetic microspheres. Picture to the right shows bright field image of sensor with two 30 micron diameter polystyrene beads affixed. (On bottom left of sensor, 3 micron magnetic bead is visible as small dark dot.)
Also, use a neighboring reference spring with no beads affixed (for measuring gravitational deflection of spring alone)
