Open-Source 3-D Platform for Low-Cost Scientific Instrument Ecosystem

Zhang, Chenlong; Wijnen, Bas; Pearce, Joshua M.

doi:10.1177/2211068215624406

Cited by 68 publications

(54 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…For example, a simple 3D printable syringe pump [6] resulted in thousands of downloads and customizations, creating millions of dollars of value for the scientific community in the first year of its release [50,51]. The syringe pumps were used in multi-material 3D printers [47], wax printing of paper-based microfluidics [15], and as a fluid handling robot for chemical and biological experiments [30]. In addition, the original design was improved and ported from a Raspberry Pi environment to an Arduino environment for in-lab control [52].…”

Section: Create Parametric Designsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…RepRap 3D printers have been used to provide high-quality educational experiences for students in a wide range of disciplines in the classroom [28,29] and have become scientific platforms themselves [30]. A maturing network of peer-production [31] and 3D printing file repositories [32] provides both time and cost savings within scientific labs [33].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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General Design Procedure for Free and Open-Source Hardware for Scientific Equipment

Oberloier

Pearce

2017

Designs

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Distributed digital manufacturing of free and open-source scientific hardware (FOSH) used for scientific experiments has been shown to in general reduce the costs of scientific hardware by 90-99%. In part due to these cost savings, the manufacturing of scientific equipment is beginning to move away from a central paradigm of purchasing proprietary equipment to one in which scientists themselves download open-source designs, fabricate components with digital manufacturing technology, and then assemble the equipment themselves. This trend introduces a need for new formal design procedures that designers can follow when targeting this scientific audience. This study provides five steps in the procedure, encompassing six design principles for the development of free and open-source hardware for scientific applications. A case study is provided for an open-source slide dryer that can be easily fabricated for under $20, which is more than 300 times less than some commercial alternatives. The bespoke design is parametric and easily adjusted for many applications. By designing using open-source principles and the proposed procedures, the outcome will be customizable, under control of the researcher, less expensive than commercial options, more maintainable, and will have many applications that benefit the user since the design documentation is open and freely accessible.

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Section: Create Parametric Designsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

General Design Procedure for Free and Open-Source Hardware for Scientific Equipment

Oberloier

Pearce

2017

Designs

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“…The possible applications are numerous, such as titanium scaffolds for orthopaedic implants [1], complex biomedical devices [2], optic components [3], lab-on-a-chip devices [4], and aerial vehicle wing structures [5], to name but a few recent developments. Besides the fast-growing markets for additive manufactured biomaterials and engineered structures, 3D printing also opens a cheap and simple route to produce individual, customised components for scientific use [6][7][8][9]. Fused filament fabrication [10] is a low-budget 3D printing technique often using polymers, especially thermoplastics, as filaments.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dielectric Properties of 3D Printed Polylactic Acid

Dichtl

Sippel

Krohns

2017

Advances in Materials Science and Engineering

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3D printers constitute a fast-growing worldwide market. These printers are often employed in research and development fields related to engineering or architecture, especially for structural components or rapid prototyping. Recently, there is enormous progress in available materials for enhanced printing systems that allow additive manufacturing of complex functional products, like batteries or electronics. The polymer polylactic acid (PLA) plays an important role in fused filament fabrication, a technique used for commercially available low-budget 3D printers. This printing technology is an economical tool for the development of functional components or cases for electronics, for example, for lab purposes. Here we investigate if the material properties of “as-printed” PLA, which was fabricated by a commercially available 3D printer, are suitable to be used in electrical measurement setups or even as a functional material itself in electronic devices. For this reason, we conduct differential scanning calorimetry measurements and a thorough temperature and frequency-dependent analysis of its dielectric properties. These results are compared to partially crystalline and completely amorphous PLA, indicating that the dielectric properties of “as-printed” PLA are similar to the latter. Finally, we demonstrate that the conductivity of PLA can be enhanced by mixing it with the ionic liquid “trihexyl tetradecyl phosphonium decanoate.” This provides a route to tailor PLA for complex functional products produced by an economical fused filament fabrication.

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“…8 The second study demonstrates the development of a general-purpose instrument that can be used for a variety of laboratory procedures. 9 Both of these studies are a result of the University of Michigan Open Laboratory Initiative. Like the NIH, this initiative is a resource of ideas and plans for instruments that can be custom built by researchers using 3D-printed parts.…”

Section: Special Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%