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LABS PAY 18,000 DOLLARS FOR A 96-CHANNEL PIPETTE. HE BUILT ONE FOR 250 DOLLARS

A 96-channel pipettor fills an entire plate in one press — the machine that decides whether a small lab can screen hundreds of samples a day or a dozen, built for 250 dollars instead of 18,000 dollars.

by It's Triggy

FULL CAD BOM FIRMWARE DOCS

ScienceOpen-hardware

difficulty
●●●●○
time
a weekend-plus
license
CERN-OHL-P-2.0
repo
repo ACTIVE186 stars

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

  • 3D printer + filament — printable parts — files are in the repo
  • Dev board / microcontroller — runs the project firmware

Partner

Show off your build — Record and edit your build video by editing the transcript, not the timeline.Try Descript
Videos
1

COMPAREE VERDICT

This is a serious build for someone who already knows their way around a lab and a workshop. A 96-channel pipettor is the kind of instrument that separates high-throughput screening from tedious manual work — commercial units like the Integra VIAFLO 96 are listed around 18,000 dollars to 31,000 dollars, and this one costs about 250 dollars in parts. The design is genuinely open (CERN-OHL-P v2 for hardware, MIT for code), and the build video shows real testing on plates, not just renders. The hard part is not the electronics — it is the mechanical tolerances. You need access to a laser cutter for the acrylic plates, a 3D printer for the structural parts, and the patience to align 96 channels so they all move together without binding. The repository is honest about what it does not have: no STEP files yet, no formal BOM, and the fastener list is rough. The biggest trap is starting without a laser cutter lined up — the acrylic plates are load-bearing, and hand-cutting them will not work. If you are a DIY bio lab on a budget or a maker who wants to understand the mechanics of precision liquid handling, this is worth the weekend. If you need something calibrated and validated for actual diagnostic work, this is not that.

NOT IN THE REPO

  • —STL and DXF files are in the repository, STEP files are marked as to-do
  • —Arduino firmware is present (MIT licensed), wiring diagram is included
  • —No formal bill of materials — fastener list is incomplete and sizes are rough estimates
  • —Hardware is CERN-OHL-P v2 (permissive, allows commercial use); code is MIT
  • —No assembly manual — the YouTube video is the primary build guide
  • —The creator documents what is missing: STEP exports and a complete fastener list are still on the to-do

Can I build this?

PrintStructural parts: plunger holders, body mounts, encoder housing. Large build volume helpful but not required.
BuyArduino Uno, stepper motor, rotary encoder, 96× syringe barrels/plungers (lab surplus or bulk supplier), acrylic sheet for laser cutting, fasteners (M3/M4, sizes not fully specified), power supply
Tools3D printer, laser cutter (or access to one), screwdrivers, soldering iron, basic hand tools for assembly
SkillsIntermediate Arduino, laser cutting, mechanical assembly. Lab experience helps — you need to understand what a pipettor actually does and how plate alignment works.
TimeA weekend for printing and cutting, another half-day for assembly and wiring, then alignment and testing. Plan for iteration if the channels bind.
Cost$$ — about $250 total. Dominated by the syringe barrels/plungers if buying new (lab surplus cuts this significantly), then acrylic and the stepper motor.
SafetyNone beyond ordinary electronics care. This is a low-voltage mechanical device — no mains, no lasers, no chemical hazards in the build itself. If you are using it with actual reagents, follow your lab's protocols.

Build at your own risk. Projects involve tools, electronics and sometimes mains voltage — follow the creator’s safety notes.

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Videos

I built a $250 MULTI-CHANNEL PIPETTE

The primary build guide — shows design iterations, assembly, and real testing on plates. 1.37 million views.

Gallery

https://media.springernature.com/full/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1038%2Fs41598-020-70465-5/MediaObjects/41598_2020_70465_Fig1_HTML.jpg
https://media.springernature.com/full/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1038%2Fs41467-022-30643-7/MediaObjects/41467_2022_30643_Fig1_HTML.png
https://media.springernature.com/lw685/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1038%2Fs41598-020-70465-5/MediaObjects/41598_2020_70465_Fig4_HTML.png

Start here

Navigation into the creator’s own docs — we don’t rewrite the guide, we route you to the source.

  1. 1.Watch the build video first (This is the assembly manual — there is no written guide)
  2. 2.Check the repository for files (STL, DXF, and Arduino code are all here)
  3. 3.Line up laser cutter access(The acrylic plates are load-bearing — you cannot skip this step)
  4. 4.Source syringe barrels/plungers(Lab surplus is cheaper than buying 96 new — check university sales or eBay)

Resources

Documentation, files and community threads for this build — we link straight to the original sources and never rehost the creator’s files.

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KNOWN ISSUES

  • Starting without laser cutter access — the acrylic plates are structural and cannot be hand-cut to the required tolerance
  • Expecting a complete BOM — the fastener list is rough and sizes are estimates; plan to iterate or measure as you go
  • Misaligned channels that bind during travel — this is the hardest part to get right and the video shows it, but fixing it is trial and error
  • Buying 96 new syringes without checking lab surplus first — they are the single biggest cost and often available cheap
  • Assuming this is calibrated lab equipment — it is a functional build, not a validated instrument, and not for diagnostic use
  • Missing the STEP file limitation — if you need to modify the design in CAD, you are working from STLs until the creator exports STEP

Can I use this for actual lab work?

It is a functional pipettor, but it is not calibrated or validated. Fine for DIY bio, proof-of-concept work, or learning — not for clinical diagnostics or anything that needs regulatory compliance.

Do I need a specific syringe size?

The video shows the syringe barrels used, but the exact spec is not in the repository. Watch the build video and measure, or ask in the discussions.

Can I build this without a laser cutter?

No. The acrylic plates are load-bearing and need precision cuts. Find a makerspace, a university lab, or a laser cutting service.

Is there a complete parts list?

Not yet. The repository has a rough fastener list and the electronics are clear from the wiring diagram, but you will need to reference the video for some parts.

What is the actual volume range?

That depends on the syringe barrels you use. The rotary encoder sets travel, so the volume is determined by your syringe size and stroke length.

Community builds

No community builds yet — be the first, we feature the best ones.

Discussion1

FROM THE COMPAREE TEAM

Ninety-six channels, all moving together, for about $250 in parts — and the files are free under CERN-OHL-P v2. If you were building this, would you source new syringes or hunt for lab surplus first?

CompareeTEAM2d ago

Practical notes from our verification: the repository is actively maintained and the creator is honest about what is missing (STEP files and a complete fastener list are both marked as to-do). The build video is the real assembly manual — there is no written guide — and it shows the kind of mechanical alignment challenges you will actually face when 96 channels need to move without binding. The single biggest decision is laser cutter access: the acrylic plates are structural and you cannot skip that step. If you are a DIY bio lab or a maker who wants to understand precision liquid handling, this is a genuine path to a working instrument for a fraction of the commercial price. If you need something calibrated and validated, this is not that.

It's Triggy

A maker who builds open lab hardware and documents the process with honest, detailed build videos. This pipettor project has over 1.37 million views and shows real iteration, not just the final success.

GitHub

Star the project on GitHub

DISCLAIMER

  • Comparee is not the author of the projects featured here. All rights to each project belong to its creator — every page links to the original source, and we never host creators’ files.
  • Information is provided without warranty and may become outdated as projects evolve. Prices are indicative bands only — always check the creator’s parts list for current costs.
  • Building and operating any project is at your own responsibility. Protective equipment, safe workshop practice and compliance with local regulations are the builder’s responsibility.
GitHub repo