Niskin3D: the open-source water sampler

thingiverse

Niskin3D is a cutting-edge, low-cost water sampler made from 3D-printed components and controlled by a waterproof servo motor. The Niskin bottle, an ingeniously simple tube designed to collect water samples at precise depths, is one of the most essential tools in oceanography. When paired with a CTD, an array of Niskin bottles fitted into a rosette offers everything an oceanographer needs to accurately profile the ocean. However, traditional Niskin bottles are neither budget-friendly nor straightforward to use. A commercial rosette requires a winch for launch and recovery, necessitating both a vessel and a crew to deploy it. For unaffiliated researchers, citizen scientists, or anyone working on a tight budget, obtaining high-quality, discrete water samples is an ongoing challenge. The Niskin3D revolutionizes the cost of discrete-depth water sampling, making this commonly used tool in oceanographic research accessible to everyone. Read the comprehensive build instructions, access the bill of materials, and download additional source code from the Niskin3D Github Repository at https://github.com/OceanographyforEveryone/Niskin3D. To support more innovative projects like this, consider contributing to my Patreon account at https://www.patreon.com/Andrew_Thaler.