Swivel Cap Headstage v2.0

Submitted by:

dheadley

Mon, 2015-12-28 12:07

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General Information

✓ This model was processed by NetFabb

Model ID

3DPX-002518

Category

Labware & Devices

Keyword(s)

Microdrive, head-cap, chronic recording, swivel cap, headestage, Rat, head stage, headcap

This page contains all the files for our swivel cap headstage design for the all Electronic Interface Boards by Plexon. We've updated our original design with several structural fixes and new features, such as the ability to use a 1x16, 2x32, 3x32, or a 4x32 EIB with the same model.

The model for the base/bottom piece only contains the holes for aligning the headstage with bregma and lambda. Further holes will need to be placed in the model by the experimenter in order to reach their desired brain structures. Obviously, different 3D modeling programs will have different methods of doing this.

Below, you will find the steps to add new holes to the headstage base using Blender, which is a free and open-source 3D modeling program available here: http://www.blender.org

Basic Controls:

Right Click = Selects an object. Mouse Scroll Wheel = Zooms the camera in or out. Mouse Wheel Click (HOLD) = Used to reposition the camera. Numpad 7 = Moves the camera so it looks straight down at the top of the model (pressing 5 will toggle between Orthographic and Perspective modes).

Step 1: Open Blender, delete the default box, and import the model by going to File --> Import --> Stl (.stl), and selecting the file. Press "N" to bring up the variables pane. Ensure that the Headstage is located at X = 0, Y = 0, Z = 0.

Step 2: On the left hand side, select the Create tab, then create a Cylinder. The cylinder should be placed at X = 5, Y = 0, Z = 0, and its dimensions should be X = 0.75, Y = 0.75, Z = 10. (By default, Blender uses milimeters for all measurements.)

Step 3: Copy and paste (CTRL+C, CTRL+V) the cylinder. Move the cylinder to the desired AP (X axis) and ML (Y axis). You can type basic mathematical formulas in the Location fields to move objects precisely. For example: If a target region is -2.75 AP and +/- 1.75 ML from Bregma, you can type 5-2.75 on the X axis variable (remember the bregma hole is located at +5) and Blender will automatically move the cylinder to X= 2.25.

Step 4: Right-click on the headstage base to select it. On the far right, select the Modifier tab (represented by a wrench), then go to Add Modifier --> Boolean (second column, third from the top). Change the Operation variable to Difference, then select Object and locate the cylinder. (NOTE: If you get a message stating "Cannot execute boolean operation" you likely selected the cylinder located at Bregma. Because the hole already exists, Blender cannot create another one. Go back to the Object menu and select a different cylinder.) Select "Apply."

Step 5: Repeat Steps 3 and 4 until you have created holes for all the regions you wish to record from. Next, select the headstage and press Tab to enter Edit Mode, then press "A" twice to select the entire model. On the left hand side select the Tools tab, then select Remove Doubles near the bottom. Next, use the commands CTRL+T and CTRL+N to triangulate faces and make normals (faces) consistent, respectively. This will help ensure the printing process goes smoothly. Press Tab again to return to Object mode.

Step 6: Ensure that the headstage base is selected, then go to File --> Export --> Stl (.stl). Name the file whatever you'd like (it is generally unwise to overwrite the original file) and confirm. (Note: If the headstage base is not selected, it will not print.)

TROUBLESHOOTING:

1. If, while performing a boolean operation, parts of the model other than the desired area disappear, or the cylinder becomes part of the headstage, an error developed in the model. The quickest way to resolve the issue is to start over.

2. One common mistake is to assign the boolean operation to a cylinder rather than the headstage. Be vigilant while performing these steps to avoid errors.

A video showing how to assemble the head-cap can be found on our lab's website:

http://parelab.rutgers.edu/microdrives.html

Model Origin

Custom illustration/CAD

How to Make

Recommended 3D Printer(s)

Thermoplastic extrusion, single extruder

Thermoplastic extrusion, multiple extruders

Stereolithography/optical

Recommended Printing Material

PlasWHITE; PlasGRAY; ABS plastic; FormLabs White/Clear/Black resin

Pre- and Postprocessing Instructions

Best results are obtained by printing on the Form1.

For Formlabs' Form1 Printer:

Load STL into PreForm and tilt approximately 10 degrees toward the hinge.

Use default settings for generating supports.

Use .1mm slice thickness.

For Asiga Composer:

Use 0.05mm slice thickness.

Elevate the model approximately 2-3mm above the platform.

Manually add ample supports to the underside (the program will add unnecessary sprues to some surfaces that need to be smooth). Depending on the size of the model, you may need to use 20-25 sprues.

Use a .200mm or .300mm base plate.

Change the "Normal Exposure Time" variable to 1.75 seconds. This will ensure a cleaner, crisper print.

NOTE: If you find that the model/supports fails during printing, changing the Separation Velocity variable to 1-5 mm/s may help. You may also want to try adding additional sprues.

NOTE: The Headstage Holder is too large to be printed with on an Asiga Pico Plus 33. However, it can be ordered from www.shapeways.com for minimal cost. You should never need more than one or two of these.

After printing, rinse thoroughly in a bath of 70% - 99% isopropyl alcohol. Fill a syringe (we used a 10cc syringe with an 18g needle) with alcohol and use it to clear residual material out of crevices. Blow dry with a compressed air. Surfaces should appear smooth and shiny, but not wet. Place in a UV oven for 30-60 minutes. The object should not feel sticky.

A video showing how to assemble the head-cap can be found on our lab's website:

http://parelab.rutgers.edu/microdrives.html

Attribution

PubMed ID

25 652 930

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1152/jn.00955.2014

Author(s)

Headley DB, DeLucca MV, Haufler D, Paré D

Citation Title

Incorporating 3D-printing technology in the design of head-caps and electrode drives for recording neurons in multiple brain regions

Journal

Journal of Neurophysiology

Citation Year

2015

Month

February

Day

Abstract

Recent advances in recording and computing hardware have enabled laboratories to record the electrical activity of multiple brain regions simultaneously. Lagging behind these technical advances however are the methods needed to rapidly produce microdrives and head-caps that can flexibly accommodate different recording configurations. Indeed, most available designs target single or adjacent brain regions, and if multiple sites are targeted, specially constructed head-caps are used. Here, we present a novel design style, for both microdrives and head-caps, which takes advantage of 3D printing technology. This design facilitates targeting of multiple brain regions in various configurations. Moreover, the parts are easily fabricated in large quantities, with only minor hand-tooling and finishing required.

Swivel Cap Headstage v2.0

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