So checkout the new qControl Tutorial and SmartData Tutorial. Or load the qControl Example and see for yourself.

Here are some of the new changes / features:

• Web-application (qcontrol.qnimble.com) faster with a better look and more controls over how numbers are displayed.
• New SmartData type: Array of Options -- restrict a variable to only certain values and get menu in qControl
• Interact with SmartData objects using the same syntax as its underlying type -- No more .get() and .set()!
• New setLimits function to set a min and max value on a SmartData object
• New setSetter function for even more control on how a SmartData object updates
• New runOnUpdate to call a custom function whenever a SmartData object's value changes
• New setDefaultLayout for qCommand to store a default layout for qControl
• Easier, cleaner syntax for Protothreads

I'm celebrating a work anniversary today. Five year ago today isn't the day I founded qNimble. Or the day I started developing the Quarto. Or the day the Quarto went on sale, nor my first sale. No, today marks the fifth anniversary of having physical hardware.

Designs, models, plans and theory are great, but they need to be tested. For electronics, that means physical hardware. So after lots of calculations, simulations, designs, and double triple checking everything, I finally pulled the trigger on ordering physical circuit boards. And on Sept 15th, 2020, I got to hold my design in my hand.

At the moment the picture was taken, I was giddy and nervous. Anxious to test my board. When designing a complex board from scratch, there are so many ways to make mistakes big and small. And every problem would need to be understood, analyzed and fixed. Soon, I'd plug in the board and start plugging away at its problems. But for a moment, I got to take a breath and simply look at what I'd built.

This application note covers the basics of locking and sweeping the D2-125. But that's just the start of what's possible. You could implement an auto-relock routine or log the long-term drift of the servo output. Interesting in learning more? I'll be at Vescent's booth at DAMOP from June 17th - 19th. Stop by to check out a cool demo, talk about how to use the Quarto, or just pick up some qNimble swag.

Starting with 7.2 revision and higher hardware, this terminal block has been replaced with the socketed Eurostyle terminal block. This socket can be connected to a traditional screw terminal¹ (included with the Quarto), but as it is removable, you can have multiple screw terminals, each wired to different equipment and connect to the Quarto as needed.

Additionally, instead of using a screw-terminal, you can connect the terminal socket to a PCB-solderable terminal block² to enable plugging in a custom PCB into the GPIO lines of the Quarto. This custom board could be an adapter board to connect a safety interlock to the Quarto, or an adapter to a D-sub to connect to other equipment. Or a simple break-out board to connect GPIO lines to SMAs.

qNimble is excited to announce that Autex will be the exclusive distributor of the Quarto in Japan. Autex has been selling electro-optical solutions to academic, government, and commercial laboratories for over 35 years. With a broad product portfolio ranging covering optics, electronics and everything in between, qNimble is pleased to work together with Autex to bring the Quarto to Japan.

For sales in the Japan, please see Autex's Quarto page, or you can contact Autex. For technical questions or sales outside of the Japan, please contact qNimble.

To enable this functionality, in the Arduino IDE, go to Boards Manager and install the latest (1.7.x or higher) version of "qNimble iMXRT Boards by qNimble". Then simply run

useExtADCClock(true);

in the setup() section of your code. More documention on how to use this functionality at Software Functions / External Clocks. Also check out the example UseExternalADCClock and OnDemandADCTrigger in the Arduino IDE under File, Examples, Examples for Quarto, Clocks.

If you aren't sure what firmware version of the Quarto you have, open the DeviceInfo example under Testing:

And when you run it, the output on the Serial Monitor should look something like:

Quarto Device Information
SN: 123
Device ID: qN-101.5.1
Firmware Revision: 1.29.45

If you see a firmware revision lower than 1.32.X, you will need to upgrade your firmware to use this feature. Please contact qNimble about upgrading your firmware.

To enable this functionality, in the Arduino IDE, go to Boards Manager and install the latest (1.7.x or higher) version of "qNimble iMXRT Boards by qNimble". Then simply run

useExtClock(true);

in the setup() section of your code. More documention on how to use this functionality at Software Functions / External Clocks. Also check out the example UseExternalClock in the Arduino IDE under File, Examples, Examples for Quarto, Clocks.

If you aren't sure what firmware version of the Quarto you have, open the DeviceInfo example under Testing:

And when you run it, the output on the Serial Monitor should look something like:

Quarto Device Information
SN: 123
Device ID: qN-101.5.1
Firmware Revision: 1.29.45

If you see a firmware revision lower than 1.30.X, you will need to upgrade your firmware to use this feature. Please contact qNimble about upgrading your firmware.

Overall, our lab has had a very positive experience using the qNimble Quarto. The Arduino code was easy to learn, and the ability to send serial commands to the Quarto provided a seamless interface with the experiment. The technical support offered by qNimble was invaluable, including answering emails with questions and tips and pointing us to helpful online forums. We are very grateful for their assistance and are benefitting from adding the Quarto to our laboratory apparatus.

The qNimble Quarto is a flexible data acquisition and experiment control device. Low latency & jitter, high-resolution A2Ds & D2As, a high sampling rate, and a facile user interface make the Quarto a high-performance tool for any laboratory.

You can read the full application note here.

If you aren't sure what version of package you have, go to Boards Manager in the Arduino IDE and filter for 'qN' and it should show what version you have installed. If you see something like 1.4.0, as shown below, click on upgrade.

**Shankar Menon in Hannes Bernien's lab at the University of Chicago! **

We can't wait to see what you will do with it, Shankar.

Thanks to everyone who entered the raffle, and if you want get a Quarto in a more deterministic fashion, please click here.

In partnership with Vescent, qNimble is raffling off a free Quarto. To enter, please fill out for entry form describing how you would use the Quarto. Make sure to use your professional e-mail address as we are not accepting entries from @gmail.com and the like. Also, if you entered the raffle on Vescent's website, it is the same raffle, so no need to create a duplicate entry. The winner will be announced around May 16th.

By entering, you agree that qNimble and Vescent may, if you win, use your name and institution in promotional material. Please see Raffle Terms and Conditions for full contest details.

https://qnimble.com/package_qnimble_beta_index.json

Then restart the Arduino IDE and when you go to the board manager, you will see options to install beta versions of our latest software.

For detailed instructions, follow the Quick Start Guide but use the beta URL listed above. For information about the latest (beta and released) software and new features, see the announcements page on the forum.

To use the SD card, first in the Arduino IDE, go to Boards Manager and install the latest (1.2.x or higher) version of "qNimble iMXRT Boards by qNimble"

Once installed, open the UsageAndBenchmark example under SD,

Then you can put a SD card in the Quarto and run the example to do some basic operations and to benchmark the SD card. Or look at the example code to see how to list files, change directories, read and write files, etc.

If you aren't sure what version of the Quarto you have and if it supports the SD card, open the DeviceInfo example under Testing:

And when you run it, the output on the Serial Monitor should look something like:

Quarto Device Information
SN: 516
Device ID: qN-101.3.1
Firmware Revision: 1.26.46

If you see a Device ID of qN-101.3.1 or higher, you are ready to use the SD card. If you have qN-101.1.X or qN-101.2.X, please contact qNimble about your options for using the SD card with the Quarto.