A fluorometer is a device that measures the spectroscopic properties of fluorescent materials, and fluorometry is used widely in chemistry research settings to characterize fluorescent samples. One of the obstacles faced by undergraduate programs looking to implement fluorometer-based experiments into their laboratory curriculum is the high cost of these instruments. We have designed a low-cost fluorometer that is suitable for teaching principles of fluorescence spectroscopy, and in this work, we provide instructions for the assembly and testing of this device. This home-built instrument, which we call the Fluorino, is constructed from inexpensive 3D printable optomechanical components, an Arduino Uno microcontroller, and low-cost optical and electronic components, and it is controlled by open-source software. Once assembled, the Fluorino can be used by students to measure and record fluorescence emission intensities in steady state as well as changes in fluorescence emission intensities in real time. This work represents an effort to expand accessibility to fluorescence spectroscopy education by providing a low-cost alternative to commercial instruments.

Fused filament fabrication 3D printing is a process by which three-dimensional objects are created by depositing layers of a material onto a hard, flat surface by a robot. It is often referred to as an “additive manufacturing” technique because material is added in successive layers to create an object. Because many scientific applications require parts that are expensive to purchase or manufacture, 3D printing custom parts for scientific instrumentation can save (shipping and/or manufacturing) time and money and requires only one compact, computer-controlled robot. Thus, 3D printable scientific parts and equipment can drive down the costs of scientific teaching and research. Here, we present a library of 3D printable optomechanical components that are compatible with commercial optomechanical parts. These components were tested for their functionality in home-built optical systems constructed entirely from 3D printed optomechanical components, and we demonstrate that optical systems built using 3D printable optomechanical components are comparable to their more expensive, commercially available counterparts, albeit not as durable as commercial parts. Thus, we conclude that our library of 28 3D printable optomechanical components is appropriate for use in scientific teaching laboratories.

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