Publication data
Type Paper
Title General Design Procedure for Free and Open-Source Hardware for Scientific Equipment
Year 2018
Language English (en)
License CC-BY-SA-3.0
Cite as Oberloier, S. and Pearce, J.M. General Design Procedure for Free and Open-Source Hardware for Scientific Equipment. Designs 2018, 2(1), 2; doi:10.3390/designs2010002 open access
Project data
Authors Oberloier S.
Joshua M. Pearce
Location Michigan, USA
Status Designed
Modelled
Prototyped
Verified
Verified by MOST
Links https://www.academia.edu/35603319/General_Design_Procedure_for_Free_and_Open_Source_Hardware_for_Scientific_Equipment%7C
https://www.mdpi.com/2411-9660/2/1/2/htm%7C
OKH Manifest Download
Device data
Design files https://osf.io/rm2ah/
https://www.youmagine.com/designs/parametric-slide-dryer
Hardware license CERN-OHL-S
Certifications Start OSHWA certification

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.

Parametric Open Source Slide Dryer
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5 Easy Steps to Design Free and Open-Source Hardware for Science

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Page data
Keywords open source hardware, open hardware, RepRap, 3D printing, OpenSCAD, customization, open science hardware, OScH, free and open-source hardware, FOSH, free and open-source software, custom designs, distributed manufacturing, P2P, P2P manufacturing, open design, scientific equipment, open scientific hardware, slide dryer, osat
License CC-BY-SA-3.0
Language English ()
Related 0 subpages, 7 pages link here
Views 303 page views (analytics)
Created January 8, 2018 by Joshua M. Pearce
Last edit January 9, 2026 by MetadescriptionsBot