3D Printed DIYbio Centrifuge V 3.0

June 20, 2019 | ATL

Version 3 of our open source 3D printed centrifuge is now up on Thingiverse. We're still making some minor improvements but the design as is can be used.

The design has the rotor below the platform and is better isolated from the electronics.

The microswitch that shuts off power when the lid is opened is activated by a plunger which is located just slightly below the top platform. This prevents the switch from being accidentally activated when the lid is opened.

The hinges have been made stronger and the front bolt-latch has been offset to make it easier to insert and retract the bolt during use. The picture above is slightly different than the STL files on Thingiverse which have been improved since we built the above prototype.

Like version 2, it's run on 12V DC, with a 12V DC motor, a rocker switch, DC adapter plug, and a microswitch.

Centrifuge Evolution

Our previous centrifuge designs had some serious shortcomings.

The first design used a drone motor, an Arduino Nano, and an ESC (electronic speed controller) because that's what we had laying around. We made the design opensource but in reality these parts are a bit expense, usually aren't laying around on other people's work benches, and difficult to assemble and program.

There were also physical design flaws. There was no switch to cut power when the cover was open, and the rotor was placed above the centrifuge's platform meaning the rotor and anything in it would be spinning, exposed to everyone and everything.

Our second design simplified the electronics and added a microswitch to cut power to the 12V DC electric motor when the lid was open.

But the hinges were weak and prone to breaking over time, and the rotor was still above the platform. When the lid was open, even with the power cut, was still spinning fast enough to pose a safety hazard.

Version 3 (left) next to version 2 (right). Note how the new design has the rotor below the platform and the microswitch cannot be accidentally pressed when the lid is opened. 

So with this third version has attempted to solve all of these problems. A better latch system and improvements to the rotor (higher resolution, better balance) still need to be worked out.

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