[Biohackers] PCR machine

[Martin Malthe Borch]

Looking forward to follow the project from Denmark.
I hope that you'll document the process well so we can benefit and
hopefully collaborate.

- Borch

Biologigaragen.org / Copenhagen / Denmark


2013/2/16 Marc Juul <marcjc at gmail.com>

> I've done some work on the PCR machine
>
> I've focused on making a design that can both be realistically built
> by off-the-shelf components by anyone with a basic set of skills, and
> is still cheap to make when we scale up to production of 100x to 500x.
>
> I think we may be able to realistically sell the whole lab kit for $400.
>
> We shouldn't spend more than half of that amount on components
> (including chemicals/biologicals/etc). The rest should go to pay for
> labor.
>
> We have four devices we've been talking about:
>
> *PCR machine
> *Centrifuge
> *Gel electrophoresis device with transilluminator
> *Incubator with shaker
>
> So if we spend e.g. $40 on components per piece of lab equipment on
> average, that's $160, leaving $40 for chemicals/biologicals/pcr tubes
> and other consumables.
>
> I think we should include enough stuff for the first 2-3 experiments,
> including nice manuals for everything.
>
> Hopefully the labor costs will be relatively low since we'll be
> selling this in kit form (a lot of assembly required).
>
> One problem is that we're not including a micropipette. We could
> include some simple glass pipettes and recommend that people go on
> ebay and buy a couple of better pipettes, or we could try to buy some
> chinese knockoffs or buy up a bunch of used pipettes and sell two
> pipettes for e.g. an extra $100.
>
> I've put all of the info here:
>
>   http://sudoroom.org/wiki/Open_Biotech/PCR
>
> Ryan has ordered the components needed to build the first prototype,
> so we should be able to start building next week.
>
> One thing I haven't looked at yet is a suitable case. We may want to
> look at DIY vacuum-formed biodegradable plastic sheets for the PCR
> machine and gel box, and a bolted/riveted box of metal for the
> centrifuge. For the incubator it's obvious that polystyrene can't be
> beaten for price/performance, but I think we should look at more
> biodegradable materials.
>
> I've been talking to Jake (from Noisebridge) and he will help us
> design a cheap and safe power supply for gel electrophoresis.
>
> --
> Marc Juul
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>



-- 
Med venlig hilsen,            Martin Malthe Borch

61713656 | biologigaragen.org |
energihojskolen.dk<http://www.energihojskolen.dk/>
Twitter & Couchsurfing "MMBorch"
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