DIY Geiger Counter -- November 2013
Printer Electronics Hardware Last Updated June 2024

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How to make your own Geiger counter:

Side view of the geiger-counter, without the lid on
Side view of the geiger-counter, without the lid on
The Geiger counter, in operation
The Geiger counter, in operation

This case stores 6-AA's, the main electronics, the geiger-counter tube (as a snap-on component), and various interactive components, such as the power switch (left side) and brightness control (right side).

Geiger counter electronics, without the case
Geiger counter electronics, without the case

Case Design

This was one of the first useful projects I designed and printed with my 3D printer. As such, the design was partly squished because I had to fit the entire case design within the build plate of my 3D printer.

This design is also quite dated, but is still functional.

Geiger Counter base (wireframe)
Geiger Counter base (wireframe)
Geiger Counter base (render)
Geiger Counter base (render)
Geiger Counter lid (wireframe)
Geiger Counter lid (wireframe)
Geiger Counter lid (render)
Geiger Counter lid (render)
Geiger Counter tube holder (wireframe)
Geiger Counter tube holder (wireframe)
Geiger Counter tube holder (render)
Geiger Counter tube holder (render)

These models were designed using BRL-CAD, which gave me a scripting interface to create the models along with a graphical output view. With this design:

There are certainly several enhancements I'd make if I were recreating this design (or printing it in bulk), but overall the entire design worked as expected.