Open Source Laboratory Rocker / Mixer / Shaker (Lab Rocker)

Here is my take on the laboratory rocker, which is a laboratory tool/device used in laboratories for mild to moderately aggressive biological and molecular mixing applications.

Please, note that no model herein should be used for commercial applications/sales. 

• This variable speed, 2-dimensional rocker was completely designed in Autodesk Fusion360.
• The design utilizes a changeable apparatus rack/tray/platform for holding apparatus to perform a see-saw motion for mixing content.
• The rack/tray can be secured in place using the side locks on either side.
• I have uploaded two types of racks/trays for this Thing: -
  • Single Piece Test Tube Rack
  • Single Piece Beaker Tray
• The surface area dimension of the beaker tray is 205 x 105 millimeters.
• The prototype model employs an
  • Arduino UNO
  • A NEMA 17 stepper motor
  • An EasyDriver v4.4
  • An external 12V DC power supply
  • Readily available skateboard bearings,
  • And some basic electronics equipment like connector wires, potentiometers, breadboard, and soldering machinery. 
  • I bought this kit to save me some time from searching for individual components.
• The project is open source and identical 3-D printable models (STL) and product photographs are also available on The National Institutes of Health's 3-D print exchange.
• Schematic files of the circuit, made using Fritzing Software, and the Arduino code is available on my Google Drive.

Please feel free to suggest some more tray/rack design ideas or design some yourself and add attribution for the original design in the remix section.

If you appreciate the design, give it a Like and do share it with your colleagues on social media. 

It is my sincere hope that my design and contribution will help out many of the research personnel, small labs, wet labs, etc. who plan to incorporate laboratory equipment like this with a tight budget. I will always welcome any sort of constructive criticism, suggestions, improvement tips, and other methods that you would like to incorporate. 

Notes:

→ Print at least 2 Left Lock 1 and Lock Screw parts to secure your apparatus rack/tray into place on either side.

Post-Printing

Assembly

Assembly of the device is relatively straightforward.

→ Use the photographs that have been uploaded as a reference to insert the open-type bearings and complete the external mechanical assembly. I have super-glued (Gorilla Glue - Cyanoacrylate) the bearings onto the 3-D model but you can choose a different method to secure them into place as you like.

→ You can use a 3-millimeter thick silicone rubber sheet on the surface of the 'Single Piece Beaker Tray' as an anti-slip mat.

PS: The Assembly manual is a work in progress. I sincerely apologize for not posting it separately!

Ideal Applications of the Model

• Biological & molecular mixing applications (Test tubes or flat-bottom beakers)

• Mildly aggressive agitation of a biological mixture (Test tube or flat bottom beaker)

• PCB etching using Ferric Chloride bath or similar (Pan or Flat container)

• Mixing paint and thinner mixture (Flat container)

Enjoy and happy printing!