# Ocean Insight Spectrometer

Connect an Ocean Insight spectrometer to an AI agent to capture spectra and measure absorbance or transmittance. A simulator lets you try the server before connecting hardware.

- MCP server · `type=mcp` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Windsurf (Devin Desktop), Cline, Zed, Gemini CLI · ★ 23
- Author: K-Dense-AI
- License: Apache-2.0 · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/K-Dense-AI/lab-instrument-mcps/tree/HEAD/servers/chemistry/ocean-spectrometer
- Updated: 2026-09-26
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/ocean-insight-spectrometer

## What it does

The server connects to supported Ocean Insight instruments through `python-seabreeze`. An agent can capture spectra, change integration time, save dark and reference readings, then measure a sample’s absorbance or transmittance. Peak positions and widths are available, and a full spectrum can be saved as CSV.

A simulation mode supports checks without a physical instrument. For real measurements, the computer needs the relevant drivers and permissions; close OceanView or any other program holding the spectrometer, since only one program can open it at a time. The server uses USB and depends on the models supported by `python-seabreeze`. Hardware testing has not yet confirmed operation on physical instruments, so verify results before relying on them.

## Requirements
- Needs: Python and uv (commands run via uvx)
- Environment variables: `LABMCP_ADDRESS`, `LABMCP_SIMULATE`, `LABMCP_READ_ONLY`, `LABMCP_LIMITS` — keys and tokens: ask the human for the values, never commit them or put them in shared files.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

**Platform CLI**
```bash
claude mcp add --env LABMCP_ADDRESS=<LABMCP_ADDRESS> --env LABMCP_SIMULATE=<LABMCP_SIMULATE> --env LABMCP_READ_ONLY=<LABMCP_READ_ONLY> --env LABMCP_LIMITS=<LABMCP_LIMITS> --transport stdio ocean-spectrometer -- uvx labmcp-ocean-spectrometer
```
Replace <…> with your own values. uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from labmcp-ocean-spectrometer <command>

### Codex

**Platform CLI**
```bash
codex mcp add ocean-spectrometer --env LABMCP_ADDRESS=<LABMCP_ADDRESS> --env LABMCP_SIMULATE=<LABMCP_SIMULATE> --env LABMCP_READ_ONLY=<LABMCP_READ_ONLY> --env LABMCP_LIMITS=<LABMCP_LIMITS> -- uvx labmcp-ocean-spectrometer
```
Replace <…> with your own values. uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from labmcp-ocean-spectrometer <command>

### Cursor

**Config file**
File `.cursor/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "ocean-spectrometer": {
            "command": "uvx",
            "args": [
                "labmcp-ocean-spectrometer"
            ],
            "env": {
                "LABMCP_ADDRESS": "<LABMCP_ADDRESS>",
                "LABMCP_SIMULATE": "<LABMCP_SIMULATE>",
                "LABMCP_READ_ONLY": "<LABMCP_READ_ONLY>",
                "LABMCP_LIMITS": "<LABMCP_LIMITS>"
            }
        }
    }
}
```
Replace <…> with your own values. uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from labmcp-ocean-spectrometer <command>

### GitHub Copilot

**Config file**
File `.vscode/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "servers": {
        "ocean-spectrometer": {
            "type": "stdio",
            "command": "uvx",
            "args": [
                "labmcp-ocean-spectrometer"
            ],
            "env": {
                "LABMCP_ADDRESS": "<LABMCP_ADDRESS>",
                "LABMCP_SIMULATE": "<LABMCP_SIMULATE>",
                "LABMCP_READ_ONLY": "<LABMCP_READ_ONLY>",
                "LABMCP_LIMITS": "<LABMCP_LIMITS>"
            }
        }
    }
}
```
Replace <…> with your own values. uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from labmcp-ocean-spectrometer <command>

### Gemini CLI

**Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini mcp add -e LABMCP_ADDRESS=<LABMCP_ADDRESS> -e LABMCP_SIMULATE=<LABMCP_SIMULATE> -e LABMCP_READ_ONLY=<LABMCP_READ_ONLY> -e LABMCP_LIMITS=<LABMCP_LIMITS> ocean-spectrometer uvx labmcp-ocean-spectrometer
```
Replace <…> with your own values. uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from labmcp-ocean-spectrometer <command>

## When to use it
- capture a spectrum and save it as CSV
- adjust integration time to suit the signal level
- measure sample absorbance against stored dark and reference readings
- locate spectral peaks and measure their width
- identify connected spectrometers by serial number

## Example prompts
- Capture a spectrum from the connected Ocean Insight instrument and save it as CSV.
- Adjust integration time for the brightest pixel, then ask me to retake the dark and reference readings.
- Measure the sample’s absorbance using the stored dark and reference spectra.

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From the same set: [k-dense-ai/lab-instrument-mcps](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/by/k-dense-ai/lab-instrument-mcps.md) — 15 cards

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