Hi!
Description:
I am working on a project which requires a liquid handling automated system. I am doing the design and I am looking for designing help and advice and a supplier to get the components.
The machine basic function is to inject certain chemicals in a biochip. To do so, I want to use a Cartesian system with 2 DOF (y, z) – axis included in the picture for better understanding – and attach there a syringe pump. Therefore, this mechanism will move the syringe pump up and down (y) to fit and extract a needle and laterally (z) to place the syringe pump on top of the places where suction and injection need to be done. This 2 axis mechanism along with the syringe pump attached would form a module.
Not only one injection needs to be done. A series of them are required, at least 6 (but probably 8/9), and the syringes needs to be different since we use different chemicals, so different modules would be used. The idea is to place one next to the other and to use another mechanism to move the chip from below one module to the next. That mechanism requires only 1 DOF, axis x.
This design is for reference, to understand the concept. I thought about a conveyor belt for that mechanism maybe there are better solutions.
We could manufacture the syringe pump ourselves, even though if you have any suggestion that would fit us we may simply buy it directly.
I want to buy one module first, test it, and if it works as we expect, buy the rest of modules and the mechanism to move the chip in the x direction.
I have been through the components in RobotShop and I believe all the needed components can be found, but I would like to purchase all components already integrated (or at least with instructions to do so). Also, I would appreciate very much any advice for the project.
Thank you so much in advance for your help!
Jose Cabot Almela
Associate Research
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Tel: +852 6871-4265