Science can be expensive. But making customized scientific equipment doesn’t have to be. Researchers at Michigan Technological University have compiled economic data on the effectiveness of open source hardware in the laboratory—and the process looks promising.
The new study, published in Science and Public Policy, was led by Joshua Pearce, an associate professor of materials science and engineering as well as electrical and computer engineering at Michigan Tech. Pearce says that distributed digital manufacturing of open source hardware will make science both cheaper and more accessible.
Open Source
Defining open source as “free” is too simple. While it does mean free access to papers, downloads and data, open source focuses primarily on sharing knowledge in order to refine and apply that knowledge. Free, or even inexpensive, is currently hard to come by in research.
“In science, we all have this problem where we pay so much for scientific equipment that it overwhelms our budgets,” Pearce says, explaining that a lot of equipment is simple—mechanically speaking—and can even be manufactured with a do-it-yourself 3-D printer like the RepRap.
Pearce proposes that instead of spending millions of dollars every year replacing quickly obsolescent equipment, that money could be redirected to developing open source tools that are “upgradeable and transformable—they will be continuously updated” using digital manufacturing techniques such as 3-D printing.
The benefits could be huge: research would cost less, the equipment would improve each year, grant competition would be less inflamed and educational tools would provide better inspiration and instruction. Outside the lab, open source tools could help spur innovation and diversity in the science manufacturing market. While these big impacts would take time to grow, Pearce and his Michigan Tech Open Sustainability Technology lab did quantify the impact of open source syringe pumps.
Making an Accessible Syringe Pump
Syringe pumps are ubiquitous and an iconic scientific tool. Their prices range from several hundred bucks to a couple of thousand dollars, and depending on how they’re used, the designs vary.
Pearce and his group created 3-D printable models—completely customizable—for $97 for a single pump and $154 for a double pump, using open source CAD software and off-the-shelf motor parts. They posted the designs and codes on Youmagine and Thingiverse; within ten months, they had 1,035 downloads. And each download counterbalances the cost of purchasing a syringe pump.
“We know at the very least that our design is more cost-effective than low end syringe pumps,” Pearce says. “You look at our syringe pump, and it’s way better than the low end ones—it matches performance of high end syringe pumps that anyone can build themselves.”
To calculate a return on investment, the team examined the download substitution value. Basically, they took the price of a syringe pump and the cost of manufacturing their own tool design—the difference between them represents a savings. Then they multiplied that savings by the number of people who downloaded the design and made the tool. Pearce and his team estimate the return on investment for this case study is between 460 percent and 12,000 percent.
Read more: Making a Difference with Open Source Science Equipment
The Latest on: Open Source Science Equipment
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Open Source Science Equipment” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Open Source Science Equipment
- Former Iranian President Khatami Joins In Calls For Political Change Amid Growing Unreston February 5, 2023 at 10:29 am
Former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami has joined opposition figure and ex-Prime Minister Mir Hossein Musavi in calls for political change as the country continues to be stricken with widespread ...
- Venezuela's Maduro, Iranian Diplomat Discuss Defense Against 'External Pressures'on February 4, 2023 at 10:52 am
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and the visiting Iranian foreign minister have discussed the need for "vigilance in defending their national interests against external pressures." ...
- science equipmenton February 2, 2023 at 4:00 pm
The principles of open-source hardware are starting to make great strides in scientific research fields. [Walker Arce] tells us about his paper co-authored with [Jeffrey R. Stevens], about a dog ...
- Difficulty measuring methane slows plan to slash emissionson January 31, 2023 at 7:46 am
Even energy companies that have begun developing systems to reduce their methane emissions are likely years away from being able to make comprehensive calculations ...
- Marking and Coding Equipment Market With Highly Productive Segment To Expand Outstandingly | Including 94 Pages Reporton January 29, 2023 at 5:02 pm
Marking and Coding Equipment Market 2023 with 94 Pages Report and enhance with extents shares into sub-counties are ...
- Patient injured in operating room fire at OHSUon January 25, 2023 at 4:50 pm
The hospital did not disclose specific details about the incident, but said it had clarified its policies on the use of high-flow oxygen and cautery equipment.
- Knoxville Biz Ticker: Applications open for City's Community Agency Grant fundingon January 24, 2023 at 8:31 am
The City of Knoxville is now accepting applications from local non-profit organizations for grant funding available through the Community Agency Grant (CAG) program for Fiscal Year 2023-24, which ...
- Computer Science Education Provides Recession-Proof Job Opportunitieson January 19, 2023 at 8:19 am
Experience, equipment and certifications can help computer information science students find jobs after graduation.
- Best astrophotography cameras 2023on January 13, 2023 at 8:12 am
Instead of just looking at the stars, you can record the universe for creative expression or scientific record-keeping ... of space with just any old equipment. The best astrophotography cameras ...
- scientific equipmenton January 3, 2023 at 4:00 pm
The principles of open-source hardware are starting to make great strides in scientific research fields. [Walker Arce] tells us about his paper co-authored with [Jeffrey R. Stevens], about a dog ...
via Bing News