Fast PASTA: converting an HX711 module to 80 SPS
Channel: Davor Virag
Date: 2022-01-28

This video guide for hacking a readily-available HX711 load cell module for 80 SPS output, thus making your PASTA faster! For instructions on HOW TO MAKE PASTA, see:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjeHkfuQhH0

PASTA is an open-source platform for neuroscientific research based on a hacked kitchen scale. It has been used for prepulse inhibition sensorimotor gating analysis in our original PASTA paper [1], as well as quantification of grip strength (griPASTA) [2].

Bon appétit!

References:
[1] Virag D, Homolak J, Kodvanj I, Babic Perhoc A, Knezovic A, Osmanovic Barilar J, et al. Repurposing a digital kitchen scale for neuroscience research: a complete hardware and software cookbook for PASTA. Sci Rep 2021;11:2963. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-82710-6
[2] Homolak J, Virag D, Kodvanj I, Matak I, Perhoc AB, Knezovic A, et al. A hacked kitchen scale-based system for quantification of grip strength in rodents. 2021. https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.07.23.217737

Useful links:
 - HX711 datasheet (via SparkFun): https://cdn.sparkfun.com/datasheets/Sensors/ForceFlex/hx711_english.pdf
 - Graphics were created using Fritzing: https://fritzing.org/

Chapters:
00:00 Theory
04:02 Modifying the board
07:51 Visual inspection
08:23 Continuity testing