LABS PAY THOUSANDS FOR ONE SYRINGE PUMP - CALTECH'S DESIGN 3D PRINTS THREE PLUS A MICROSCOPE FOR UNDER 400 DOLLARS
Three lab-grade syringe pumps and a microscope, 3D printed and assembled for under 400 dollars — a tenth of the cost of a single commercial pump.
ScienceOpen-hardware
- difficulty
- ●●●○○
- time
- an evening
- license
- BSD-2-Clause
- repo
- repo ACTIVE240 stars
●●●○○ · an evening · BSD-2-Clause · 240 stars · repo ACTIVE
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
- 3D printer + filament — printable parts — files are in the repo
- Electronic parts — full list with part numbers in the repo BOM
- Dev board / microcontroller — runs the project firmware
Partner
COMPAREE VERDICT
Poseidon is a complete three-pump syringe system designed for microfluidics research at Caltech's Pachter Lab. The mechanical and electrical design is institutional-grade: stepper motors, linear rails, 3D-printed frames, and a Python interface that controls all three pumps from a laptop. The repo includes every file you need — CAD, firmware, GUI source, and a costed BOM — and the design is peer-reviewed and published. The cost claim is real: under 400 dollars for the full system. Commercial equivalents are 1,000 dollars to 10,000 dollars each. The catch is that this is lab equipment, not a weekend curiosity. You will need to compile the Python GUI yourself, calibrate the steppers, and understand what volumetric precision means for your application. The design assumes you know why you need a syringe pump. If you are equipping a biology or chemistry lab on a budget, or replicating published microfluidics protocols, this is the standard open alternative. If you are exploring what a syringe pump does, the learning curve is steeper than the mechanical build.
IN THE REPO
NOT IN THE REPO
- —STL and STEP models present, Fusion 360 source files included
- —Bill of materials with prices in the repo
- —Arduino firmware and Python GUI both provided
- —Build instructions in README, peer-reviewed paper in Scientific Reports (2019)
- —BSD-2-Clause licence — permits commercial use
- —No pre-compiled GUI executable — you compile the Python yourself
Can I build this?
Build at your own risk. Projects involve tools, electronics and sometimes mains voltage — follow the creator’s safety notes.
Partner · KickstarterHeyGears G1: 10M+ colors and transparent parts in one print, plus UV printing on flat objects. Figures, parts and labels — no painting.
Videos
Poseidon syringe pump build
Official build video from the Pachter Lab
Gallery
Start here
Navigation into the creator’s own docs — we don’t rewrite the guide, we route you to the source.
- 1.Read the Scientific Reports paper(The paper explains the design rationale and precision validation — read it before you order parts)
- 2.Check the bill of materials(Priced BOM is in the repo — verify current component availability and cost)
- 3.Print the frame parts(STL files are in the repo — print one pump's worth first to confirm fitment)
- 4.Flash the Arduino firmware(Firmware is in the repo — upload it before mechanical assembly)
- 5.Compile and run the Python GUI(No pre-built executable — you will need Python 3 and the dependencies listed)
Resources
Documentation, files and community threads for this build — we link straight to the original sources and never rehost the creator’s files.
KNOWN ISSUES
- The Python GUI is source-only — no installer, no executable. If you have never set up a Python environment with dependencies, budget time for that before the build.
- The BOM prices are from 2019. Stepper motors and linear rails have fluctuated — verify current costs before committing.
- Calibration is not automatic. You will need to tune the stepper steps-per-microliter for each syringe size you use.
- The design assumes you know what volumetric precision you need. If you are unsure, you will be learning that as you build.
- No enclosure or case is provided — the pumps are open frames. If you need splash protection or a clean environment, you will design that yourself.
- The microscope is a bonus inclusion, not the primary focus. Documentation for it is lighter than for the pumps.
Is this as precise as a commercial syringe pump?
The published paper reports precision within the range needed for microfluidics research — competitive with entry-level commercial units. High-end commercial pumps may offer tighter tolerances or more features, but for most lab protocols this matches the requirement at a fraction of the cost.
Can I use this for clinical or pharmaceutical work?
No. This is research-grade lab equipment. It is not certified for clinical, diagnostic, or pharmaceutical applications.
Do I need all three pumps?
No. The design is modular — you can build one, two, or three depending on your application. The GUI supports all three, but you can run fewer.
What syringes does it take?
The design accommodates standard disposable syringes — sizes are listed in the BOM. You will need to calibrate for each size.
Community builds
No community builds yet — be the first, we feature the best ones.
Discussion1
FROM THE COMPAREE TEAM
Three pumps for under $400 — the entire system costs less than a single commercial pump's shipping. If you were equipping a lab from scratch, what would you pair this with first?
Pachter Lab, Caltech
Poseidon was developed in Lior Pachter's computational biology lab at Caltech to make microfluidics experimentation accessible without the cost barrier of commercial equipment. The design was published in Scientific Reports in 2019 and has since become a reference example of open lab hardware.
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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.
CompareeTEAM4d ago
Practical notes from our verification: the repository is stable and complete — STL files, Fusion 360 sources, Arduino firmware, and Python GUI are all present. The bill of materials includes prices from 2019, so verify current component costs before ordering. The Python GUI has no pre-built executable, so you will compile it yourself (dependencies are listed). The single biggest hurdle is not the mechanical build — it is understanding what precision you need and how to calibrate for it. If you know why you need a syringe pump, this is the standard open alternative. If you are exploring, expect the learning curve to be steeper than the assembly.