Open source 3D-printed 1000 μL micropump

thingiverse

Scientific progress marches forward in lockstep with technological advancements, making scientific endeavors heavily reliant on laboratory equipment. Investment in developing countries still lags far behind that of OECD nations, which allocated approximately 2.4 percent of their gross domestic product (GDP) to research and development in 2015. Conversely, Brazil made the largest investment among Latin American countries at just 1.2 percent. The "open-source revolution" now appears more potent than ever as a catalyst for promoting development and bridging the economic divide between developed and developing nations. Against this backdrop, this article showcases the design of a 1000 μl 3D-printed micropump – a straightforward and practical design inspired by pipette pumps. The present prototype was printed using a 3D printer and assembled with ease utilizing everyday tools. Upon testing, the micropump's performance revealed a systematic error ranging from 1.4 to 3.8 percent of its volume and a random error spanning 0.38 to 9.5 percent of the volume.