Build instructions, videos, and software to use are available in the paper: Salil S. Sule, Aliaksei L. Petsiuk and Joshua M. Pearce. Open Source Completely 3-D Printable Centrifuge. Instruments 2019, 3(2), 30; [open access]( https://doi.org/10.3390/instruments3020030)
https://doi.org/10.3390/instruments3020030
Abstract: Although there are commercial and open source centrifuges, the costs of the former and the required electricity to operate the latter limit accessibility in resource-constrained settings. There is a need for low-cost, human-powered, verified, and reliable lab-scale centrifuges. This study provides the designs for a low-cost 100% 3-D printed centrifuge, which can be fabricated on any low-cost RepRap-class (self-replicating rapid prototyper) fused filament fabrication (FFF)- or fused particle fabrication (FPF)-based 3-D printer. In addition, validation procedures are provided using a web camera and free and open source software. This paper provides the complete open source plans, including instructions for the fabrication and operation of a hand-powered centrifuge. This study successfully tested and validated the instrument, which can be operated anywhere in the world with no electricity inputs, obtaining a radial velocity of over 1750 rpm and over 50 N of relative centrifugal force. Using commercial filament, the instrument costs about U.S. $25, which is less than half of all commercially available systems. However, the costs can be dropped further using recycled plastics on open source systems for over 99% savings. The results are discussed in the context of resource-constrained medical and scientific facilities.
Based on design by Salil S. Sule.
Joined about 10 years ago
Western University's Free Appropriate Sustainability Technology (FAST) Research Group
I am a professor that runs Western University's Free Appropriate Sustainability Technology (FAST) research Group Research group. I wrote the Open Source Lab: How to Build Your Own Hardware and Reduce Research Costs.