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Category: Project

Description: Open Source Laboratory Sample Rotator Mixer and Shaker Karankumar C. Dhankani and Joshua M. Pearce An open-source 3-D printable laboratory sample rotator mixer is developed here in two variants, which allow users to opt for the level of functionality, cost saving and associated complexity needed in their laboratories. First, a laboratory sample rotator is designed and demonstrated that can be used for tumbling as well as gentle mixing of samples in a variety of tube sizes by mixing them horizontally, vertically, or any position in between. Changing the mixing angle is easy and requires no tools. This device is battery powered and can be easily transported to operate in various locations in a lab including desktop, bench, clean hood, chemical hood, cold room, glove box, incubator or biological hood. Second, an on-board Arduino microcontroller powered via USB is incorporated that adds the functionality of a laboratory sample shaker mixer. These devices can be customized both mechanically and functionally as the user can simply select the operation mode on the switch or alter the code to perform custom experiments. The open source laboratory sample rotator mixer can be built by non-specialists for under US$30 and adding shaking functionality can be done for under $20 more. Thus these open source devices are technically superior to proprietary commercial equipment and can save over 90% of the costs.