Docking board

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title: "Flow-Cell Docking Board — KiCad Revision" summary: "A KiCad implementation of a compact docking interface for a multi-electrode electrochemical flow cell." tags: [pcb-design, electrochemistry, connectors, instrumentation, kicad]

Flow-Cell Docking Board — KiCad Revision

Overview

This project is a KiCad implementation of the docking electronics for a multi-electrode flow-cell platform. It adapts a compact Molex 5015680307 cell connector to laboratory-accessible headers and a high-density Samtec HSEC8 card-edge connector. The board provides a repeatable mechanical and electrical boundary between the experimental cell and external measurement electronics.

The design is intentionally passive: its role is to preserve channel mapping and provide a robust interconnect rather than condition signals on the docking PCB. This makes the board reusable across different potentiostats, current-measurement front ends, and experimental configurations.

Engineering highlights

• High-density Samtec HSEC8-113 interface for connection to external instrumentation.
• Molex 5015680307 compact connector for the flow-cell assembly.
• Two eight-pin headers break out the principal electrode and gate channels.
• Three-pin auxiliary header provides access to additional cell electrodes/signals.
• Custom connector footprints and a detailed PCB layout migrated into a modern KiCad project structure.
• Included 3D-aware footprint data and project-specific design-rule configuration support mechanical integration and review.

Design considerations

For electrochemical measurements, passive interconnect quality directly affects leakage, crosstalk, and noise. Channel identity must remain unambiguous from the cell through the docking board to the instrument. Connector cleanliness, PCB surface condition, shielding, cable selection, and unused-channel termination should be controlled according to the expected current range and bandwidth.

This folder documents the docking-board design, not the complete fluidic or measurement system. Electrical isolation, leakage, chemical compatibility, pressure integrity, and system-level performance require validation with the final flow cell and instrumentation.

Tools and deliverables

EDA: KiCad
Outputs: schematic, PCB layout, custom symbol/footprint assets, project design rules, and worksheet configuration