![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/73ec5c0b32dfeff633b393cf9ab59941/3647d056-aecf-4a26-9b19-7a8c97d5dcf5_rw_3840.jpg?h=d397390a2075b6aeca53c64c98c9d198)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/73ec5c0b32dfeff633b393cf9ab59941/24ef5555-3b60-4286-8534-b20cc5907159_rw_3840.jpg?h=aec2419efa77f0ba33eb66ebf4e1b723)
![PCB under the microscope](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/73ec5c0b32dfeff633b393cf9ab59941/154d03d7-93da-43a1-9999-8b442409712b_rw_1920.jpg?h=4feb350c7dc7956e3095874165316590)
PCB under the microscope
![Testing circuit by circuit](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/73ec5c0b32dfeff633b393cf9ab59941/97628061-7548-4e3b-a7ba-4eba4b9e950c_rw_1920.jpg?h=a893b60e14cf9d613d2db1182e08a973)
Testing circuit by circuit
![Finished assembly](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/73ec5c0b32dfeff633b393cf9ab59941/292ddf1e-c610-4815-9bb1-a81fe80486d3_rw_1920.jpg?h=983a6a89f3d56203737f0a837272a1c4)
Finished assembly
![Internals of the scanner](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/73ec5c0b32dfeff633b393cf9ab59941/2509e087-33ca-4e89-ae38-e695ef4416a7_rw_1920.jpg?h=0522ba6795ea7e19fcd6c77244c03d98)
Internals of the scanner
![Assembled scanner](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/73ec5c0b32dfeff633b393cf9ab59941/82ebf95e-9cc5-4e7c-9b16-e31507b03690_rw_1920.jpg?h=f335512ab8452a974e8048bd3afcac72)
Assembled scanner
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/73ec5c0b32dfeff633b393cf9ab59941/abd4cd84-01fe-4a8b-9c7f-aff348c5dcbf_rw_1920.jpg?h=8bceedc412158229fcb8e5d9fc21f3d9)
Plastic Scanner plotting software
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/73ec5c0b32dfeff633b393cf9ab59941/344d07b4-a2e2-44d5-b1e3-83959168f606_rw_1920.jpg?h=c3f6be62cce2391d23d50a15f3d26cdc)
Debugging sensor board
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/73ec5c0b32dfeff633b393cf9ab59941/243a2d6e-1d01-4fff-bf58-11557e94e2d0_rw_3840.jpg?h=4e617d19047e1043e65195358ec1d248)
Scanning different plastic specimens
This build was an interesting project to test the current status of the near infrared spectrometer designed by the open source Plastic Scanner Project. The project aims to develop a low-cost alternative for plastic type identification. It is the single-most important step during plastic recycling to reliably identify the plastic type for effective sorting. For this purpose the recycling industry takes advantage of so called near infrared spectrometers which illuminates the plastic sample and measures the reflected light at multiple spots on the wavelength spectrum. Each plastic type can be identified based on an unique reflection pattern that spreads over the infrared spectrum.
Plastic Scanner plotting software
Debugging sensor board
Scanning different plastic specimens