BactoBox® hardware changelog

What we added, changed, or fixed in each hardware version

BactoBox® hardware changes over time. Hardware changes are less frequent than BactoBox® software changelog.

See changes by hardware version below.

Changes

January 1, 2025

v7.6a

• Add vibration dampers to the pump bracket.

  • Reduces 300 Hz noise.

  • Reduces pump sound.

  • Reduces measurement bias in some setups.

• Add an internal filter between the pump and the flow cell.

  • Prevents tubing fibers from entering the flow cell.

  • The root cause was pump-driven spallation.

• Remove the flow sensor.

  • Software does not use it.

  • It caused too many false positives.

• Reorganize and fasten internal components and tubing.

  • Makes assembly and disassembly more reliable.

• Change properties of some tubing sections.

  • Adjust length, inner diameter (ID), and conditioning.

  • Better matches barb specifications.

• Change rod layout in the bottom shell to a 4 cm grid.

  • Makes the internal layout easier to modify later.

August 1, 2023

v7.5

• Add a pulsation damper.

  • Uses the 10403 mp-damper.

• Add isolation between the TIA mount and the PCB.

  • Prevents PCB short-circuits from conductive mount material.

• Change conductivity sensor.

  • Switch to a newer sensor revision.

• Change tubing for flow paths.

  • Switch from Chemdurance tubing to Tygon tubing.

• Remove the 60 cm tubing loop.

  • The loop had unclear effect.

  • The pulsation damper replaces it.

October 1, 2022

v7.4

• Change to a "sideways" Oina stepper motor.

  • Replaces the "pancake" Oina stepper motor.

June 1, 2022

v7.3

• Change component tolerances on the main PCB.

  • Affects resistors and capacitors in the analog chain.

April 1, 2022

v7.2

• Change tubing.

• Remove steel fittings and racks.

• Change pogo pin assembly process.

  • The PCB manufacturer now mounts pogo pins.

  • SBT no longer mounts pogo pins in-house.

February 23, 2022

v7.1

Hardware v7.1 is identical to hardware v7.0.

January 1, 2022

v7.0

• Remove the built-in vial holder.

  • Older units had holes to hold three 7 mL vials.

  • We no longer recommend 7 mL vials.

November 22, 2021

v6.1

Hardware v6.1 is identical to hardware v6.0.

July 13, 2021

v6.0

Hardware v6.0 is identical to hardware v5.0.

February 1, 2021

v5.0

• Add protective circuitry to avoid flow cell overloading.

  • Prevents electrode damage during electrical overload.

January 1, 2021

v4.1

Hardware v4.1 is identical to hardware v4.0.

December 1, 2020

v4.0

• Update the conductivity sensor to v2.

June 1, 2020

v3.1

• Add conductivity sensor v1.

April 1, 2020

v3.0

• Fix power issues related to the ON/OFF rocker switch.

December 1, 2019

v2.0

• Add Green Mango board.

  • Includes CPU, FPGA, memory, storage, USB controller, and TIA.

  • Includes an on-board flow cell interface.

• Add USB micro-B port.

• Change to flow cell interface v2.0.

  • Uses clamps to lock the flow cell in place.

  • Supports dual-site flow cells and a flow cell memory chip.

• Change from single-site to dual-site TIA.

• Change to "pancake" Oina stepper motor.

• Remove Red Pitaya and its HAT and support boards.

  • The Green Mango board replaces them.

January 1, 2018

v1.0

• Add a Red Pitaya board.

• Add a custom HAT board for Red Pitaya.

  • Includes motor driver and RTC.

• Add a custom board for PSU and USB I/O.

• Add a custom PCB for buttons.

• Add a display.

• Add flow cell interface v1.0.

  • Uses two screws to lock the flow cell in place.

Gallery

BactoBox® hardware v2.0–3.0 prototype. a) Assembled and b) disassembled.

BactoBox® hardware v1.0 prototype. a) Assembled and b) disassembled.

Disassembled BactoBox® hardware v1.0 prototype. Image from around 2019-08-12.