Building research equipment with free, open-source hardware

Scientists love open-source hardware

Building Research Equipment with Free, Open-Source Hardware

Open-source Lab
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Pearce, Joshua M. 2012. “Building Research Equipment with Free, Open-Source Hardware.” Science 337 (6100): 1303–1304.

DOI: 10.1126/science.1228183

Podcast

Summary

Most experimental research projects are executed with a combination of purchased hardware equipment, which may be modified in the laboratory and custom single-built equipment fabricated inhouse. However, the computer software that helps design and execute experiments and analyze data has an additional source: It can also be free and open-source software (FOSS). FOSS has the advantage that the code is openly available for modification and is also often free of charge. In the past, customizing software has been much easier than custom-building equipment, which often can be quite costly because fabrication requires the skills of machinists, glassblowers, technicians, or outside suppliers. However, the open-source paradigm is now enabling creation of open-source scientific hardware by combining 3D printing with open-source microcontrollers^W running on FOSS. These developments are illustrated below by several examples of equipment fabrication that can better meet particular specifications at substantially lower overall costs.

Share, and We All Grow Richer

Pearce, Joshua M. Share, and We All Grow Richer, The Analytical Scientist, Issue #0213, Article #301 (2013).

Free and open-source scientific hardware has the potential to liberate collective intelligence and cut costs

Examples

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Open source scientific hardware is open source hardware used by scientists to do research or for education. This gallery and associated sub-pages are an extension of the book the Open Source Lab, which is about how to make scientific equipment following open source principles. Click on the hyperlinks under the images in this index to go to pages with hundreds of examples.

The Open-source Lab: How to Build Your Own Hardware and Reduce Research Costs
Open Source Framework for a Broadly Expandable and Reconfigurable Data Acquisition and Automation Device (BREAD)
NIH 3D Print Exchange - 3D-printable Custom Labware
3D printable science equipment - 3D print your lab
3D printable science equipment page 2 - more 3D prints for your lab
3D printable science equipment page 3 - and even more
Open Source Optics Library - and your optics lab
Open Source Laboratory Sample Rotator Mixer and Shaker
Open Source Scientific Bottle Roller
Michigan Tech's Open Sustainability Technology Lab's efforts in open source hardware
Open-source syringe pump - Parametric library of web-controlled open-source syringe pumps
Open-source 3-D Platform for Low-cost Scientific Instrument Ecosystem
Free and open-source automated 3-D microscope
3-D printable open source dual axis gimbal system for optoelectronic measurements
Open Source 3-D Printed Nutating Mixer
Open source microscope accessories
Open Source test tube racks
Open source centrifuges
Open Source Raman Spectrometer
Ultrascope
The Unique Open-Source Quartz Crystal Microbalance
Low-cost Open-Source Voltage and Current Monitor for Gas Metal Arc Weld 3-D Printing
Flypi - Portable device for microscopy, thermo and optogenetic experiments [1]
Open-Source Photometric System for Enzymatic Nitrate Quantification
GaudiLabs- Swiss Fab Lab making low cost lab instruments
OpenTrons - Open source fluid handling
Plasmatron - OpenTrons derivative for semi-automated culture of malaria parasites
Pax Instruments
PNNL Smartphone Microscope
Open-source Wax RepRap 3-D Printer for Rapid Prototyping Paper-Based Microfluidics
Open-Labware.net
OpenFlexure Microscope, WaterScope
nEMoS (nano Environmental Monitoring System)
LudusScope-Accessible Interactive Smartphone Microscopy
CheapStat OS DIY Potentiostat
BioHack Academy Kit
PLOS Open Source Toolkit
OpenIOLabs monitors and controls multiple devices with one unified programming interface
IOrodeo - company making open source science instruments
Cambridge JIC - 3D printable programmable digital microscope
freeLoader mechanical testing machine
Marchetto Lab - open source sensors and instrumentation
Open Source Imaging, NMR, MRI, EMF
EEZ OS Bench power supply
Open Behavior FOSH for animal behavior and cognition
Libre Space Foundation has both DIY satellite ground station and OS satellite UPSat
Openly Published Environmental Sensing Lab at OSU- rain catchment, wind vane, soil moisture, etc.
UPB Smartphone spectrometer
Plant tissue culture systems from U. of Guelph
ECHO Open - Echo stethescope
Open Biomedical
Arduino - a class of open source microcontrollers useful for automating equipment
Raspberry Pi - credit-card sized computer running Linux
Red Pitaya - open source measurement and control tool
OpenLabTools - University of Cambridge initiative in open source hardware for science
Tekla Lab - Berkley's initiative for a library of open source DIY quality scientific lab equipment
Sensorica - an Open Value Network providing sensing and automation solutions.
Hackteria - webplatform and collection of Open Source Biological Art Projects
Open Solar Outdoors Test Field - Solar photovoltaic testing
Open Source Physiology Lab- 3D printing physiology equipment
open ephys works on open-source electrophysiology
Backyard Brains - neuroscience experiment kits for DIY electrophysiology
Open source 3D-printed 1000 μL micropump
Approaches to Open Source 3-D Printable Probe Positioners and Micromanipulators for Probe Stations
Open Source Low-Cost Power Monitoring System
Open Source Digitally Replicable Lab-Grade Scales
Open Source Vacuum Oven Design for Low-Temperature Drying: Performance Evaluation for Recycled PET and Biomass
Open Source 3-D Printed ISO 8655 Compliant Multichannel Pipette
Modular Open-Source Design of Pyrolysis Reactor Monitoring and Control Electronics

Examples of Open-Source Hardware Useful to Scientists
RepRap
Open-source laser system for polymeric welding
Recyclebot
Open-source lab jack
Open Solar Outdoors Test Field
Open-source chopper wheel
Parametric automated filter wheel changer
Open-source lens holder
Dremelfuge
OpenPicoAmp

For more printable open-source scientific equipment see the Learning Category at Thingiverse or any of the subcategories including engineering, math, physics, and biology.

In the News

3D Printing Brings the Science Lab to Your Backyard - Popular Mechanics
3-D Printing- Anything You Can Dream Jumps Into Three Dimensions - Txchnologist
Do it yourself and save: Open-source revolution is driving down the cost of doing science - MTU News,CBS Detroit, Detroit City and Press, Phys.Org, Science Daily, Adafruit Blog, Timbuktu Chronicles, Innovation Toronto, Florida Biotechnology News, Lab Manager Magazine
Open-source, low-cost, and low-input scientific instrumentation - Harte Lab UC Berkley Blog
How DIY Tech Is Making Science Cheaper - Treehugger, Berita Buzz, Grep Science
DIY Lab Tools Save Scientists Thousands of Dollars - - BioTechniques
3D Printing in the Lab - Will Lab Hardware Follow Software into Open-Source? - Mad Scientist at Large
Scientists bring 3D printing into the lab - 3Ders.org
Our Open Source Future - The Analytical Scientist
Making Equipment for the Lab,in the Lab - The Economic Times India
Chế tạo thiết bị cho phòng thí nghiệm dùng Arduino và công nghệ in 3D - Sotatec's Blog about Arduino
Science Enabled By Open Source Hardware - Openalia
DIY analytical instruments - Separations Now
DIY, open-source science drives costs down - Hematology Times
Build your own lab equipment - The Stochastic Scientist
3-D Printing - The Scientist
3D Printing and Open Source Appropriate Technology - PrintThat
A Paradigm Shift - Industrial Engineer
Building research equipment with free, open-source hardware Adafruit
Print your own lab - Chemistry and Industry Magazine
3-D Printers Move Into Research Labs - Chemical and Engineering News
Need A Centrifuge? Print One Out - Central Science Newscripts
The 3-D Printing Revolution-Dreams made real, one layer at a time Science News
Less Expensive and Greener 3-D Printing- IEEE Institute
Opinion: Science Counterculture - On taking DIYbio to the next level - The Scientist (great op ed with biohack examples)

Building research equipment with free, open-source hardware

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