Mechanical overview
Generally, LabAutoBox consists:
- Raspberry Pi computer
- Microfluidics components for liquid handling (multichannel syringe pump, 3 peristaltic pumps, pressure compensation vessel (PCV), 8 4-way servo driven stop-cock valves)
- Electronic box that contains the boards for controlling these microfluidic devices and the XYZ motion robot that works with them
- Aluminum extrusion frame for supporting the microfluidics devices
- ATX power supply unit (PSU) normally used with desktop computers
- Tubing 1/8 inch and 1/16 inch diameters for connecting the LabAutoBox to robotics for doing 8 channel pipette liquid handling
Figure 1: LabAutoBox CAD drawings displaying the comprised components (Electronic Box, multichannel syringe pump, peristaltic pumps (wash, waste, PCV), 8 4-way servo stop-cock valves and PCV
Electronic box plug reference
Figure 2: LabAutoBox electronic box plug-in reference
The electronic box is used for controlling XYZ gantrys (like 3D printers, old laboratory automation systems, labbots). The attached Raspberry Pi runs the LabAutoBox browser based software and on the front of this electronic box are connections for hooking the different devices for doing liquid handling based laboratory automation.
- X - X motor and endstop
- Y - Y motor and endstop
- Z - Z motor and endstop
- S - Multichannel syringe pump motor and endstop
- H1 - Heater controller unit 1
- H2 - Heater controller unit 2
- P - Pressure compensation vessel electrocaloric liquid level sensor
- L - Liquid pumps (wash, waste and PCV)
- H3 - Heater controller unit 3