A low-cost push-pull syringe pump for continuous flow applications

Marco Iannone; Diego Caccavo; Anna Angela Barba; Gaetano Lamberti

doi:10.1016/j.ohx.2022.e00295

A low-cost push-pull syringe pump for continuous flow applications

HardwareX. 2022 Mar 12:11:e00295. doi: 10.1016/j.ohx.2022.e00295. eCollection 2022 Apr.

Authors

Marco Iannone^{1

2}, Diego Caccavo^{1

2

3}, Anna Angela Barba^{1

3}, Gaetano Lamberti^{2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, SA, Italy.
² Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, SA, Italy.
³ Enhanced Systems and Technologies Srl, Academic spin-off, Via Circumvallazione, 39 -83100 Avellino, AV, Italy.

Abstract

Syringe pumps are very useful tools to ensure a constant and pulsation-free flow rate, however usability is limited to batch processes. This article shows an open-source method for manufacturing a push pull syringe pump, valid for continuous processes, easy to build, low-cost and programmable. The push-pull syringe pump (PPSP) is driven by an Arduino nano ATmega328P which controls a NEMA 17 in microstepping via the A4988 stepper driver. The Push-Pull Syringe Pump setup is configurable by means of a digital encoder and an oled screen programmed using C ++. A PCB was designed and built to facilitate the assembly of the device. The continuous flow is guaranteed by four non-return valves and a dampener, which has been sized and optimized for use on this device. Finally, tests were carried out to evaluate the flow rates and the linearity of the flow. The device is achievable with a cost of less than 100 €.

Keywords: 3D-printing; Continuous flow; Dual syringe pump; Push–pull.