flexDrive

This design is deprecated, we recommend switching to the newer Open Ephys shuttle drive (preprint: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/746651v1), (git repository: https://github.com/open-ephys/shuttle-drive). This new design is superior to the flexDrive in all aspects (robustness, travel distance, build speed), and we strongly recommend switching.

The flexDrive is a compact hyperdrive for up to 16 independently movable electrodes. It uses a novel spring mechanism to adjust electrode depth.

This repository only contains design files. See https://open-ephys.atlassian.net/wiki/display/OEW/flexDrive for documentation and assembly instructions.

File types

• .brd = EAGLE board files; describe the physical layout of the printed circuit board
• .md = Markdown files; most likely a README file; can be viewed with any text edtior
• .txt = standard text files
• "gerber" files (.top, .bsk, .oln, etc.) = contain machine-readable instructions for creating the printed circuit board; these are sent to a fab house (such as Sunstone Circuits) for PCB production
• .SLDPRT files = SolidWorks part files; contain CAD models of 3D components
• .SLDDRW files = SolidWorks drawing files; contain 2D images of components
• .DXF = another type of 2D drawing file that can be opened in Adobe Illustrator or similar software
• .STL files = stereolithography files; can be sent to a rapid prototyping service (such as Shapeways) to create 3D objects
• .pdf files = standard document format for viewing and editing 2D images

Paper

Voigts J, Siegle JH, Pritchett DL and Moore CI (2013). The flexDrive: An ultra-light implant for optical control and highly parallel chronic recording of neuronal ensembles in freely moving mice. Front. Syst. Neurosci. 7:8. doi: 10.3389/fnsys.2013.00008