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Technical Overview

Equipment

Active "benchtop" equipment.

Centrifuges

PLANNED

Discord thread https://discord.com/channels/1042462799772782613/1128199805122920509

We are developing our own automation-friendly centrifuge for microtubes.

Centrifuges are machines that spin samples at high speeds to separate components based on their density. They are used to separate solids from liquids, different cellular components, or particles of different sizes in solutions. These particles are separated according to the size, shape, density, and viscosity of the medium.

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Prototype BLDC Centrifuge.

To learn how to build your DIY portable BLDC centrifuge from scratch go here and visit:

Thermocyclers

PLANNED

Discord thread https://discord.com/channels/1042462799772782613/1130552183105015950/1130552183105015950

For now, Pipettin Bot does not support this yet, as it is currently undergoing development.

We are developing an integration with the PocketPCR, an open-hardware thermocycler.

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Thermocyclers, also known as PCR machines, are used in molecular biology for the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The basic idea of a thermal cycler is that it provides a thermally controlled environment for PCR samples.

A thermal cycler usually contains a heating block with holes or depressions in it that receive sample tubes. For the PCR reactions to work properly, the block must change temperature at specific times, and spend specific durations of time at specific temperatures.

Prototype adaptation of the PocketPCR to automation.

To learn more about this project, visit:

Well-plate incubator

PLANNED

Development on this front has not started. We will probably repurpose heated-beds from 3D-printers, as they are precise and integrate well with our software stack.

A well-plate incubator, also known as a microplate incubator, is a specialized equipment designed to provide a controlled and stable environment for cultivating and incubating samples in microplates. It offers several key capabilities that are essential for various biological and biochemical assays and experiments.

Orbital shaker

PLANNED

For now, Pipettin Bot does not support this yet. We have only prototyped a very "shaky" shaker, but the designs shown below were unsatisfactory.

An orbital shaker is another key equipment, designed to facilitate the mixing and agitation of samples placed in various containers.

The versatility of an orbital shaker to accommodate a wide range of labware depends on its orbital diameter, and having "slots" for a variety of labware, such as micro-well plates (a.k.a 96-well plates, ELISA plates). This means it can be used for cell culture and protein expression, where maintaining consistent environmental conditions and proper mixing are critical.

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Prototype orbital shaker, fixed to the robot's baseplate.

The orbital shaker mechanism relies on 3D-printed parts and standard bearings, such as the 608zz and 625z. The diameter of the orbit is a crucial parameter, which determines which kinds of labware it can effectively shake.

For microplates and applications that demand precise and small-scale mixing, a smaller orbit diameter is needed. In these cases, a standard orbit diameter of about 1 mm is often used to ensure uniform mixing while minimizing the impact on the samples.

However, achieving an orbit of this diameter requires a redesign of the eccentric couplers, which are responsible for generating the orbital motion. This modification would allow shaking of 96-well plates and small tubes, which is usually done with a benchtop "vortex" device.

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Prototype orbital shaker.

Microscopes

PLANNED

For now, Pipettin Bot does not support this yet. The closes we have got so far is making a tool-mount for the "USB Microscopes", to start imaging coolonies on petri dishes, and playing with "augmented" workspaces.

We might reuse reGOSH's ESP32 cam in a microscope: https://luherbert.gitlab.io/wiki-regosh-2023/hardware/microscop%C3%ADa/esp32-cam/

Microscopes are optical instruments used to magnify and visualize small objects that are otherwise not visible to the naked eye. They are crucial for studying cells, tissues, microorganisms, and various structures in biological and material samples.

There are many different types of microscopes used in modern pathology laboratories and research departments around the world, these typically include stereo, compound, digital, and pocket microscopes as well as an electron, and fluorescence microscopes.

Photometers

PLANNED

Discord threads: - https://discord.com/channels/1042462799772782613/1125799842111832155 - https://discord.com/channels/1042462799772782613/1125799999498887289

For now, Pipettin Bot does not support this yet. We are close to adding a step to measure things with the UI, but the hardware is still not automation friendly.

Colorimeters and spectrometers are devices that measure the "color" of a sample. They do this by passing light through the sample and measuring how much of the light is absorbed at different wavelengths. The color of the sample is then determined by comparing the absorbance spectrum to a known standard.

Here is a prototype colorimeter as made by CoSensores.

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To learn more about this project, visit:

Spectrophotometers measure the amount of light absorbed or transmitted by a substance as a function of the wavelength of light. They are utilized to analyze the concentration of substances in solutions, including DNA, RNA, proteins, and chemicals, by assessing their light-absorbing properties. This is achieved by passing light through the substance and quantifying the intensity of light absorbed or transmitted. By comparing the measured values to known standards, spectrophotometers enable accurate determination of the concentration of substances within the solution. They can also be used be used to quantify the composition of a sample.

  • To learn how to build your DIY portable spectrophotometer from scratch go here

Plate Readers

PLANNED

Discord thread https://discord.com/channels/1042462799772782613/1125801364774195301

We have not started development on this front.

Plate readers, also known as microplate readers, are devices used to measure various properties of samples contained in microplates (well plates). They can perform tasks like measuring the fluorescence, absorbance, or luminescence of samples, making them valuable tools for high-throughput experiments in fields such as biochemistry and drug discovery. A wide range of assays can be performed using a microplate reader including ELISAs, protein cell growth assays, nucleic acid and protein quantification, enzyme activity measurement, immunoassays, among others.