# SRS Lock-in Amplifier Lets an agent drive Stanford Research Systems lock-ins: read X/Y/R/θ, set frequency, phase and sensitivity, run frequency sweeps. - 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/physics/srs-lockin - Updated: 2026-09-26 - HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/srs-lock-in-amplifier ## What it does This server talks to Stanford Research Systems DSP lock-in amplifiers, covering the older SR810/SR830 and the newer SR860/SR865A. An agent can pull X, Y, R and θ as one snapshot, adjust the reference frequency, harmonic and phase, set the drive level, sensitivity and time constant, and fire off auto phase or auto range. A separate tool steps the reference from a start to a stop frequency, waits for the output filter to settle at each step, and writes X/Y/R/θ into a fresh CSV file. Connections go over GPIB (VISA) or RS-232, and the SR86x adds USB (USBTMC) and Ethernet (VXI-11). The model is read from `*IDN?` and can be forced with `--option model=`. GPIB needs a VISA backend: pyvisa-py covers most USB-GPIB adapters, NI-VISA is selected with `?backend=@ivi`. On RS-232 the SR830 terminates replies with CR while the SR86x uses LF, so an SR86x on that port wants `--option model=sr860` or its transmit terminator switched to CR. You can try it with no hardware at all: `--simulate` starts a simulator, and a sweep from 9 to 11 kHz there shows a resonance peak. The `--read-only` flag permits reading outputs and settings but blocks every change and the sine output. A drive level above the `max_amplitude_v` limit is refused, and `set_amplitude_minimum` only takes the SR810/SR830 down to 4 mV rms — it cannot reach zero, so unplug the cable when the sample must see no drive. ## 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= --env LABMCP_SIMULATE= --env LABMCP_READ_ONLY= --env LABMCP_LIMITS= --transport stdio srs-lockin -- uvx labmcp-srs-lockin ``` Replace <…> with your own values. uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from labmcp-srs-lockin ### Codex **Platform CLI** ```bash codex mcp add srs-lockin --env LABMCP_ADDRESS= --env LABMCP_SIMULATE= --env LABMCP_READ_ONLY= --env LABMCP_LIMITS= -- uvx labmcp-srs-lockin ``` Replace <…> with your own values. uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from labmcp-srs-lockin ### Cursor **Config file** File `.cursor/mcp.json`: ```json { "mcpServers": { "srs-lockin": { "command": "uvx", "args": [ "labmcp-srs-lockin" ], "env": { "LABMCP_ADDRESS": "", "LABMCP_SIMULATE": "", "LABMCP_READ_ONLY": "", "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-srs-lockin ### GitHub Copilot **Config file** File `.vscode/mcp.json`: ```json { "servers": { "srs-lockin": { "type": "stdio", "command": "uvx", "args": [ "labmcp-srs-lockin" ], "env": { "LABMCP_ADDRESS": "", "LABMCP_SIMULATE": "", "LABMCP_READ_ONLY": "", "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-srs-lockin ### Gemini CLI **Platform CLI** ```bash gemini mcp add -e LABMCP_ADDRESS= -e LABMCP_SIMULATE= -e LABMCP_READ_ONLY= -e LABMCP_LIMITS= srs-lockin uvx labmcp-srs-lockin ``` Replace <…> with your own values. uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from labmcp-srs-lockin ## When to use it - capture X, Y, R and θ in one coherent snapshot - set the reference frequency, harmonic and phase shift - pick a sensitivity that fits the current signal - log a frequency sweep to CSV and find a resonance - switch the input to A-B or current mode with the right coupling ## Example prompts - Connect to the lock-in and show me the current X, Y, R and θ - Set the reference to 10 kHz and run auto phase - Sweep from 9 to 11 kHz and save the result to a new CSV ## Similar - [OpenReadout](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/openreadout.md) — MCP server · ★ 8 - [ads-snapchat](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/ads-snapchat.md) — skill · 564 installs - [product-capability](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/product-capability.md) — skill · 4600 installs - [reimagine-it-lock](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/reimagine-it-lock.md) — skill · ★ 212 - [Departi – Travel Compliance & Curated Booking](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/departi-travel-compliance-curated-booking.md) — MCP server - [content-amplifier](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/content-amplifier.md) — skill · 1100 installs 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 --- NeVibeCode on affpapa.org. 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