The platform needs to handle various liquids such as oils, aqueous phases and acetone. Our group is using Tricontinent C-Series Syringe Pumps. Dropfactory uses 10 of them.
Here is a top view of the pumps and the reageant containers:
A full documentation of our python library to control the pumps and how to wire them is available at: https://github.com/croningp/pycont
For Dropfactory, the pumps configuration and control is managed in the software/pump folder.
A pump is made of a syringe, whose volume can vary, and a valve that can dispatch the liquid from different directions.
Here is some information about the tubing that connects to the pumps
1/8 inch outer diameter tubing and their fitting
- http://kinesis.co.uk/products/fittings-tubing/tubing/tubing-tubing-ptfe-1-8-3-2mm-od-x-1-5mm-id-10m-008t32-150-10.html
- http://kinesis.co.uk/flangeless-fitting-for-1-8-od-tubing-1-4-28-flat-bottom-delrin-etfe-black-yellow-xp-308.html
1/16 inch outer diameter tubing and their fitting