# Materials & methods **URL:** http://forum.0xdbfb7.com/c/methods/28.md [Latest](http://forum.0xdbfb7.com/latest.md) · [Categories](http://forum.0xdbfb7.com/categories.md) --- ## [About the Materials & methods category](http://forum.0xdbfb7.com/t/about-the-materials-methods-category/215)
**Author:** [@0xDBFB7](http://forum.0xdbfb7.com/u/0xDBFB7)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [November 28, 2024, 2:37pm UTC](http://forum.0xdbfb7.com/t/about-the-materials-methods-category/215 "2024-11-28T14:37:37Z")
Notes on building things --- ## [Low-latency ways to twiddle pins using computers](http://forum.0xdbfb7.com/t/low-latency-ways-to-twiddle-pins-using-computers/125)
**Author:** [@0xDBFB7](http://forum.0xdbfb7.com/u/0xDBFB7)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [October 18, 2026, 5:08am UTC](http://forum.0xdbfb7.com/t/low-latency-ways-to-twiddle-pins-using-computers/125 "2026-10-18T05:08:37Z")
I’ve been looking for high-bandwidth, low-latency ways to control GPIOs - 100 MHz parallel buses, for example - directly with an x86 computer. Why would you want to do this? There’s a few reasons. Maybe you want to soak… --- ## [Notes on ultra-high vacuum technique](http://forum.0xdbfb7.com/t/notes-on-ultra-high-vacuum-technique/180)
**Author:** [@0xDBFB7](http://forum.0xdbfb7.com/u/0xDBFB7)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [September 11, 2026, 12:24am UTC](http://forum.0xdbfb7.com/t/notes-on-ultra-high-vacuum-technique/180 "2026-09-11T00:24:02Z")
this is intended to be a public wiki. Please feel free to edit! ConFlat The mechanics of conflat are discussed in Lutkiewicz and Rathjen 2008 Flanges made from aluminium are also available, using hardened coatings on t… --- ## [Methods Scrapbook](http://forum.0xdbfb7.com/t/methods-scrapbook/338)
**Author:** [@0xDBFB7](http://forum.0xdbfb7.com/u/0xDBFB7)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [June 29, 2026, 5:17am UTC](http://forum.0xdbfb7.com/t/methods-scrapbook/338 "2026-06-29T05:17:27Z")
NASA Parts Selection List (NPSL) - Wire Insulation Selection Guidelines.html (11.6 KB) --- ## [Cheap UHV feedthroughs](http://forum.0xdbfb7.com/t/cheap-uhv-feedthroughs/164)
**Author:** [@0xDBFB7](http://forum.0xdbfb7.com/u/0xDBFB7)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [June 8, 2026, 3:31am UTC](http://forum.0xdbfb7.com/t/cheap-uhv-feedthroughs/164 "2026-06-08T03:31:31Z")
Purchased some NGK D8EA non-resistor gasket copper-core plugs. They’re pretty cheap at $5 to $10 apiece and very readily available. These have an M12 x 1.25 thread and a 3/4" (19 mm) reach, gasket seat, apparently equiva… --- ## [Notes on quartz crystal microbalances](http://forum.0xdbfb7.com/t/notes-on-quartz-crystal-microbalances/163)
**Author:** [@0xDBFB7](http://forum.0xdbfb7.com/u/0xDBFB7)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [July 17, 2023, 7:54pm UTC](http://forum.0xdbfb7.com/t/notes-on-quartz-crystal-microbalances/163 "2023-07-17T19:54:05Z")
Quartz crystal microbalances are used in the field of PVD film deposition to monitor the thickness of a deposited layer. In general, it might be valid to say that a system with a high Q-factor can be more easily made ver… --- ## [Forming 10-micron-scale apertures in metal foils](http://forum.0xdbfb7.com/t/forming-10-micron-scale-apertures-in-metal-foils/127)
**Author:** [@0xDBFB7](http://forum.0xdbfb7.com/u/0xDBFB7)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [December 30, 2022, 9:20pm UTC](http://forum.0xdbfb7.com/t/forming-10-micron-scale-apertures-in-metal-foils/127 "2022-12-30T21:20:49Z")
This is a trick to form micron holes. You might need such a hole for, say, a spatial filter, or as the aperture for an electron gun. One might suggest doing this photolithographically, or via some electrochemistry; but t… --- ## [Measuring bacterial culture: Turbidimetry, Nephelometry, and Impedimetry](http://forum.0xdbfb7.com/t/measuring-bacterial-culture-turbidimetry-nephelometry-and-impedimetry/143)
**Author:** [@0xDBFB7](http://forum.0xdbfb7.com/u/0xDBFB7)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [March 14, 2023, 4:54am UTC](http://forum.0xdbfb7.com/t/measuring-bacterial-culture-turbidimetry-nephelometry-and-impedimetry/143 "2023-03-14T04:54:41Z")
A few years ago, a project involved monitoring the growth of a bacterial culture in situ. This topic has come up recently and so i’m quickly collecting a few of my notes from that time here. Apologies that these are roug… --- ## [Fabrication techniques](http://forum.0xdbfb7.com/t/fabrication-techniques/196)
**Author:** [@0xDBFB7](http://forum.0xdbfb7.com/u/0xDBFB7)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [August 18, 2024, 4:40am UTC](http://forum.0xdbfb7.com/t/fabrication-techniques/196 "2024-08-18T04:40:40Z")
Place to put finishing, soldering, etc.