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Updated: Jun 26, 2025
Three-dimensional Printing of Thermoplastic Materials to Create Automated Syringe Pumps with Feedback Control for Microfluidic Applications
Published on: August 30, 2018
Automated dynamic inlet microfluidics system: 3D printer adaptation for cost-effective, low volume, on-demand
Abdul Basit Zia1, Justin Farrell1, Ian G Foulds1
1School of Engineering, The University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus, Kelowna, BC, Canada. abdulbasit.zia@ubc.ca.
Abstract:
The paper demonstrates an adaptation of a 3D printer (Prusa Mini+) with novel modules to develop a droplet generation system that generates combinatorial droplets from a standard 96 well plate. The calibration methodology developed would allow any fused deposition modeling (FDM) printer to generate monodisperse droplets (coefficient of variance (CV%) < 5%) from well plates or vials of any geometry. The system maintains precision across various volumes while maintaining a C.V. range of 0.81% to 3.61%, with an increased precision for larger volumes. The cost of the system developed is 70% less than commercially available droplet generation packages. Successful droplet library storage is accomplished via 3D printed cartridge connectors. The implemented system has been calibrated for Tygon® and PTFE at different velocities and volumetric configurations.
