MULA, an affordable framework for multifunctional liquid automation in natural- and life sciences with a focus on hardware design, setup, modularity and validation

IF 2 Q3 ENGINEERING, ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONIC

HardwareX Pub Date : 2024-09-01 DOI:10.1016/j.ohx.2024.e00581

Leon F. Richter , Wolfgang R.E. Büchele , Alexander Imhof, Fritz E. Kühn

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

The implementation of automation has already had a considerable impact on chemical and pharmaceutical industrial laboratories. However, academic laboratories have often been more reluctant to adopt such technology due to the high cost of commercial liquid handling systems, although, in many instances, there would be a huge potential to automate repetitive tasks, resulting in elevated productivity. We present here a detailed description of the setup, validation, and utilization of a multifunctional liquid automation (MULA) system that can be used to automate various chemical and biological tasks. Considering that such a setup must be highly customizable, we also designed MULA with respect to modularity, providing detailed insight as far as possible. Including all 3D-printed parts and the used Hamilton gastight micro syringe, the total construction cost is approximately 700 €. This allows us to achieve a highly reliable and accurate system that exceeds the precision of a classical air displacement pipette while still retaining the ability to use closed vial (septa) setups. To encourage other groups to adopt this setup, detailed instructions and tips for every step of the process are provided, along with the complete CAD design of MULA and control code, which are freely available for download under the CC BY NC 3.0 license.

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MULA，一个用于自然科学和生命科学领域多功能液体自动化的经济实惠的框架，侧重于硬件设计、设置、模块化和验证

自动化的实施已经对化学和制药工业实验室产生了相当大的影响。然而，由于商用液体处理系统成本高昂，学术实验室往往不太愿意采用这种技术，尽管在许多情况下，自动化重复性工作具有巨大潜力，可以提高生产率。我们在此详细介绍了多功能液体自动化（MULA）系统的设置、验证和使用，该系统可用于自动化各种化学和生物任务。考虑到这种装置必须具有高度可定制性，我们在设计 MULA 时还考虑到了模块化问题，并尽可能提供了详细的说明。包括所有 3D 打印部件和使用的汉密尔顿气密微型注射器在内，总造价约为 700 欧元。这使我们能够实现一个高度可靠和精确的系统，其精度超过了传统的空气置换移液器，同时还能保留使用封闭小瓶（隔膜）设置的能力。为了鼓励其他小组采用这种装置，我们提供了每一步操作的详细说明和提示，以及 MULA 的完整 CAD 设计和控制代码，这些都可以在 CC BY NC 3.0 许可下免费下载。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

HardwareX Engineering-Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

CiteScore

4.10

自引率

18.20%

发文量

124

审稿时长

24 weeks

期刊介绍： HardwareX is an open access journal established to promote free and open source designing, building and customizing of scientific infrastructure (hardware). HardwareX aims to recognize researchers for the time and effort in developing scientific infrastructure while providing end-users with sufficient information to replicate and validate the advances presented. HardwareX is open to input from all scientific, technological and medical disciplines. Scientific infrastructure will be interpreted in the broadest sense. Including hardware modifications to existing infrastructure, sensors and tools that perform measurements and other functions outside of the traditional lab setting (such as wearables, air/water quality sensors, and low cost alternatives to existing tools), and the creation of wholly new tools for either standard or novel laboratory tasks. Authors are encouraged to submit hardware developments that address all aspects of science, not only the final measurement, for example, enhancements in sample preparation and handling, user safety, and quality control. The use of distributed digital manufacturing strategies (e.g. 3-D printing) is encouraged. All designs must be submitted under an open hardware license.