Seismology Instruction with the AS 1

Seismometer Assembly

1. Unpack the box completely and identify the parts from the packing list.

2. Tighten the coil to the base plate of the seismometer.  The coil should be upright perpendicular 

to the base and may require tightening and or bending to orient correctly.  Tighten the bolt that 

holds the magnet to the boom arm.

3. Place the base of the seismometer on a 

level surface.  The base contains three leveling 

screws (Figure 1).  Use the bubble level and 

adjust the leveling screws as needed.  Check 

the level of the base both front to back and 

side to side.

4. Remove the tape from the knife edge at the end of 

Figure 1

the boom.  CAUTION:  The knife edge is sharp, be 

careful not to cut your hand or damage the knife edge.  

One end of the spring should be already connected to 

the upright support post.  Attach the other end of the 

spring to the boom.  Pour a small amount (1 cm deep) 

of oil in your damping cup (see step 7) and then dip 

the knife edge into the oil.  Position the boom's knife 

edge into the slot on the support post.  The boom will 

be positioned at an angle.  This is to be expected and 

will not damage the boom (Figure 2).  

Figure 2

5. The upright bolt on the boom arm requires a stack of one to sixteen washers 

(depending on the tightness of the spring) approximately 2.5 cm (1 inch) from the 

top.  Secure the stack between hex nuts (Figure 3).

With the added weight of the washer stack the boom arm should now 

be suspended over the coil.  Center the magnet over the coil (Figure 4) 

by sliding the knife edge at the support post (Figure 5).  The boom arm 

should move freely up and down and the magnet should not touch the 

coil.  This may require additional bending of the coil.  

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

AmaSeis Version 1.0 Level 2005.05.19

2.2