Using the Recycled Parts of a Computer DVD Drive for Fabrication of a Low-Cost Arduino-Based Syringe Pump

Abstract

The accurate and precise transport of the small amounts of the liquid by the syringe pump is widely used in many fields. In this paper, an Arduino-based syringe pump is fabricated using the computer DVD (digital versatile disc) drive. For the fabrication of the syringe pump, low-cost electronic components such as an Arduino microcontroller, a stepper motor, a stepper motor driver, and a display are used. The tray-loading mechanism of the computer DVD drive (close/open mechanism of the tray for inserting/removing DVD) was used for the injection process. To provide the necessary force for the precise and accurate movement of the plunger of the syringe, we replaced the DC motor of the computer DVD drive with the stepper motor and the stepper motor driver. An Arduino code was developed to control the infusion process. Depending on the syringe dimension (inner diameter and barrel length), the stepper motor (angular resolution), and the motor driver (microstepping mode), the code can be modified by using the Arduino software. The syringe pump infuses the water in the flow rates from 0.005 (mL/min) to 1 (mL/min) with a maximum of 10 μL difference between the mean measured volume and the infused volume. The fabricated syringe pump does not require the complex mechanical components that are used in conventional syringe pumps. The project provides instructions for building and testing a syringe pump and enables the students to fabricate a low-cost, open-source syringe pump using the recycled parts of the computer DVD drive for less than $30. As a result, the students will increase their hardware and software skills by completing the project.

Building an Arduino-Based Open-Source Programmable Multichannel Syringe Pump: A Useful Tool for Fluid Delivery in Microfluidics and Flow Chemistry

“…At the same time, combined with the code for automated operation, the device is able to achieve an efficient automated operation process, thereby reducing the user's labor intensity. Moreover, compare to commercial syringe pump, 9 the costs for built this multichannel syringe is less than $180 (∼$45 for each channel), which is very friendly to laboratories or institutions that lack the financial support. Taking cosmetic microcapsules preparation and droplet generation as examples, the project integrates training in 2D/3D modeling, CNC machining, 3D printing, electronic circuits, microcontrollers, equipment manufacturing, and coding skills while learning microfluidics, preparing students for future work in laboratories and industry.…”

“…8 However, microfluidic platforms are usually expensive to build. One example is the syringe pump, commercial syringe pumps are expensive, ranging from $500 to $2,000 depending on their capabilities and features, 9 which is widely used in the experiments of microfluidics and flow chemistry for precise and accurate delivery of liquids and is an indispensable component in these fields.…”

“…And recently some articles related to the manufacture of syringe pumps have been reported in the literature. 9,26,50 Similar to the 3D printer, the heart of the syringe pump is the stepper motor and related mechanical components. With the expansion board and stepper motor driver, an Arduino board can control the motion of several stepper motors in the syringe pump at the same time.…”

A Raspberry Pi Pico Based Low-Cost, Research-Grade, Open-Source Thermal Conductivity Cell Detector for Chemical Laboratory Analysis

“…Fortunately, the development of open-source hardware and software has provided researchers and students with a wealth of powerful tools for conducting experiments that are very beginner-friendly and lower the barrier to engaging in exciting research works. Over the past few years, a large number of open-source hardware and software applications with low costs have been practiced in chemical laboratories. − In the laboratory, many open-source microcontrollers (such as Arduino and Raspberry Pi) are widely used for data acquisition, ,− device control, ,− and analysis ,− because they are cheap, easy to obtain, and beginner-friendly. In 2021, the Raspberry Pi Foundation released a microcontroller called the Raspberry Pi Pico, which is powerful and can be purchased for just 4 US dollars.…”

Controllable Preparation of Monodisperse Chitosan Microspheres Based on Microfluidic Technology

“…Considering the practicability of experimental teaching, the manufacturing cost and processing difficulty of microfluidic devices should be within a controllable range. Therefore, educators use glass, , polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), , poly­(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), paper, − gel, , thermoplastics, , and other materials to prepare microfluidic devices. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is one of the primary base materials for microfluidic systems, which is used in many educational articles on microfluidics.…”