MicroPip: DIY Lab Micropipette | Adjustable & Affordable Precision

3D-Printed Adjustable Micropipette (10 uL - 200 uL)



Meet MicroPip, this custom 3D-printed adjustable micropipette, designed to make liquid handling accessible, modular, and easy to assemble using low-cost, off-the-shelf components.

By leveraging a standard 1 mL syringe as the internal piston and a threaded twisting mechanism for volume adjustment, this tool allows for reliable liquid dispensing without letting fluid enter the syringe body. It connects directly to standard 200 uL pipette tips via a custom 3D-printed adapter and features a built-in tip ejector mechanism.

Ultra-portable and lightweight, its small footprint makes it easy to transport and pack into field kits or mobile classroom setups. It is designed with simple, accessible parts that can be quickly disassembled, cleaned, or repaired on-site using inexpensive, off-the-shelf hardware, bringing functional liquid handling to resource-limited environments at a fraction of commercial equipment costs.

Use Cases & Applications While high-end commercial micropipettes are required for strict quantitative assays, this DIY micropipette offers great practical utility where functional volume control is needed without requiring microgram analytical precision:

• Educational & Remote Labs: Ideal for teaching labs with limited budgets, hands-on STEM workshops, and field research in remote areas.
• Agarose Gel Electrophoresis: Loading DNA/RNA samples and ladders into wells.
• pH Adjustment & Buffering: Adding small increments of acid or base to adjust solution pH during reagent prep.
• Staining & Destaining: Dispensing dyes (e.g., Coomassie Blue, Crystal Violet) for protein or cell staining protocols.
• General Media & Reagent Aliquoting: Transferring small, routine volumes of non-critical reagents, routine buffers, or master mix components for qualitative tests.

Key Advantages

• Ultra-Portable & Lightweight: Small footprint makes it easy to transport and pack into field kits or mobile classroom setups.
• Easily Serviceable: Designed with simple, accessible parts that can be quickly disassembled, cleaned, or repaired on-site using cheap off-the-shelf hardware.
• Highly Cost-Effective: Brings functional liquid handling to resource-limited environments at a fraction of commercial equipment costs.

Bill of Materials (BOM)

• 3D Printed Parts: Main body shell, volume adjustment screw mechanism, tip adapter, and tip ejector assembly.
• Piston Component: Standard 1 mL syringe (I use B|Braun Omnifix®-F Luer Solo 1ml)
• Springs:
• Option A: 1x Compression Spring (30 mm x 7 mm OD x 6 mm ID)
• Option B: 3x Compression Springs (12 mm x 7 mm OD x 6 mm ID)
• O-Rings:
• 1x 6 mm OD x 3 mm ID
• 1x 5 mm OD x 3 mm ID (compatible with Eppendorf-style tip sealing)
• Consumables: Standard 200 uL pipette tips (250 uL maximum depending on tip geometry). Parafilm can be used as an alternative seal between the adapter and syringe if O-rings are unavailable, though O-rings are recommended for smooth tip ejection.

Print Settings

• Material: PETG or PLA (PETG recommended for chemical durability around alcohol wipes and lab reagents).