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☢️ KiCad DIY Kit for gamma-ray spectrometer using a popular NaI(Tl) scintillator, SiPM and Raspberry Pi Pico 2.

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OpenGammaKit

PCB front and back side

Front View of the detector board
Front view
Back View of the detector board
Back view

OpenGammaKit is an open-source gamma spectrometer hardware platform, inspired by the excellent Open-Gamma-Detector. It takes the original schematic and redesigns the PCB using KiCad (originally designed in EasyEDA), making the project more accessible and modifiable for open hardware enthusiasts.

OpenGammaKit is designed to be affordable, reliable, and easy to integrate with embedded systems, mobile devices, or PCs—ideal for DIY nuclear instrumentation, educational labs, or citizen science.


🔧 Features

  • ✅ Based on the Open-Gamma-Detector schematic
  • ✅ Complete redesign in KiCad with improved layout and routing
  • ✅ USB serial communication (compatible with Android 7.0+ and PCs)
  • ✅ Compatible with OGK Inspector Android app and OGK Firmware
  • ✅ Real-time gamma spectrum output and spectrometer integration
  • ✅ Works with scintillation detectors (e.g., CsI(Tl), NaI(Tl), etc.)
  • ✅ Open and editable source files for schematics and PCB

📂 Repository Contents

  • /docs/ – Spectrum(OGK Inspector)
  • /kicad-libraries/ – KiCad libraries, including custom footprints

📷 3D render previews of the boards


3d Front View of the detector board
3d Back View of the detector board


📦 Release Contents

OpenGammaKit releases version 0.1.5.5 and later include all the fabrication files required to manufacture and assemble the OpenGammaKit gamma spectrometer hardware:

File Name Description
open-gamma-kit-gerber-files-<version>.zip 🟢 Complete Gerber and Drill files for PCB fabrication.
open-gamma-kit-centroid-file-<version>.csv 📍 Centroid (Pick-and-Place) file in mils for automated assembly.
open-gamma-kit-<version>.pdf 📄 PDF documentation
BOM.csv 📋 Bill of Materials (not archived — listed separately).

📁 Location: All files are available in the Assets release section.


🧠 Companion Projects


Spectrum of ²⁴¹Am source measured with NaI(Tl) detector

Element Symbol Atomic Number Mass Number
Americium Am 95 241

The spectrum clearly shows two gamma peaks at 59.54 keV and 26.35 keV, both corresponding to emissions from ²⁴¹Am:

  • The 59.54 keV peak is the most intense and commonly used for energy calibration.
  • The 26.35 keV peak is weaker but still visible, depending on detector resolution and shielding conditions.


Am-241

📌 These lines are useful for calibration and spectral identification in low-energy gamma spectroscopy using NaI(Tl) detectors.


📜 License

This project is licensed under the GNU General Public License v3.0.
See the LICENSE file for details.


🙌 Acknowledgements

  • Based on the original design by OpenGammaProject
  • Thanks to the open hardware and spectroscopy communities!

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☢️ KiCad DIY Kit for gamma-ray spectrometer using a popular NaI(Tl) scintillator, SiPM and Raspberry Pi Pico 2.

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