Completely 3-D Printable Centrifuge

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Build instructions, videos, and software to use are readily available in the paper by Salil S. Sule, Aliaksei L. Petsiuk, and Joshua M. Pearce: Open Source Completely 3-D Printable Centrifuge. Instruments 2019, 3(2), 30; (https://doi.org/10.3390/instruments3020030) All remaining STLs and source files can be accessed from links here: https://www.appropedia.org/Open_Source_Completely_3-D_Printable_Centrifuge This study presents the designs for a low-cost, 100% 3-D printed centrifuge that 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. Validation procedures are also 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 that is verified and reliable. The instrument was successfully tested and validated, achieving a radial velocity of over 1750 rpm and over 50 N of relative centrifugal force. Using commercial filament, the instrument costs approximately U.S. $25, which is less than half of all commercially available systems. However, costs can be significantly reduced using recycled plastics on open source systems, resulting in savings of over 99%. The results are discussed in the context of resource-constrained medical and scientific facilities where low-cost, human-powered, and reliable lab-scale centrifuges are greatly needed.