This BYOC was designed as one of my goals of the ISAC SRL EL program to act as an additional aid to spark interest when teaching cytometry to students. It has been designed to be affordable ($500-$1500), 3D printable and fun to build. I have included build list and instructions and highlight there are many opportunities for improvement/modification.
The BYOC Workshop was first held @ ACS 2016 in Sydney, Australia, @ ACS 2018 in Adelaide, Australia and conjointly with the Garvan Flow Facility @ ACS 2019, Melbourne, Australia.
Check back for updates.
Overview
The cytometer uses a <$50 adjustable 5-25mW laser (interchangeable) that is directed onto a jet in air stream. The stream is ejected throughout a 100um nozzle that is assembled using luer locks, cogs and HPLC tubing to allow injection of sample in a laminar flow. The laser is focused onto the stream and signals are detected using a 25mm, 25mm focal lens that directs the light onto the FSC/SSC/FL detectors. A diagram of the light path from excitation is shown in the diagram below. The signals are detected with a APD/Photodiode or PMT and then converted to a voltage output using a pre-amp. The signals can be viewed using an oscilloscope or can be displayed on a bivariate dot plot using a ADC connected to a computer.
3D Printable Parts
Steering laser mirror mount - https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3523131
Flow cell - https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3902321
Detector - https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3902266
Mounting - https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3902335
Sample tube mount - https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3902328
Flow control - https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3902432
Laser mount - https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3902366
Bill of materials - 3D Printed Version (acrylic assists can be interchanged)
| Item | Qty | Purpose | Sources | Cost ($AUD) | Notes | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600x600 tile | 1 | base | Local tile supplier | Free (tell them what you are making) | Aim for a free marble tile  | |
| 600x600 steel sheet | 1 | build platform | Bunnings (Sydney) | $26 | Ensure it is magnetic. Thickness does not matter, thinner normally means cheaper. I recommend sign steel. Have some fun and wobble it ;p | |
| 0.3M7TIA gear | 2 | holds HPLC in the centre of luer lock | Aliexpress | <$5 for 20 | https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33000449925.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.86a84c4dqSRqUr |  |
| 450 extension springs | 19 (2 detectors), additional 6 per detector | provides pulling force to mirror, laser, lenses | Bolts & Industrial (Sydney) Century Springs (US) | $4 | We need to buy it from a reseller. Spring Catalogue: https://www.centurysprings.com.au/products/prod_catalogue.htm Can also buy about 10x cheaper from ebay. |
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| M3 socket screw | bag | used as screws to put the whole thing together | RS components or ebay | |||
| M3 nut | bag | Ensure outside dimensions are 5.5mmx5.5mm | RS components | $13.80 | RS PRO, M3 5.5mm Steel Square Nuts, Bright Zinc Plated Finish 837-262 |
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| 25mmx25mm optics | 2-3 | focus light onto detector from intercept point | Edmund optic | $52.80 | Stock #32-490 https://www.edmundoptics.com.au/p/25mm-dia-x-25mm-fl-mgfsub2sub-coated-double-convex-lens/2375/ | |
| 5mmx25mm optics | 1 | focus laser light onto stream | Edmund optic | $61.50 | Stock No. #87-913 https://www.edmundoptics.com.au/p/50mm-dia-x-250mm-fl-mgfsub2sub-coated-plano-convex-lens/30185/ | |
| 100um nozzle | 1 | eject stream | Intertronics or FISNAR | 38 pounds | https://www.intertronics.co.uk/product/preci-tip-precision-dispensing-tips/ IDMSPREC-M100-NS | |
| Luer lock connectors and 1/4inch BSP to barb fittings | 1 | to connect to nozzle | Bunnings & Kinesis Australia & USA KENT | I will need to seperate this column a bit more - information will be provided during the workshop. |  | |
| 30mm x 10mmx 3mm | 20 | mount items | Ebay | $18 | 20pcs N50 Strong Block Cuboid Rare Earth Neodymium Magnets 30mm x 10mm x 3mm | |
| Circular magnet | To mount APD instead of photodiode |  | ||||
| 20L Drum | 2 | used to create a vacuum | recycle bin | free | to make see instructions | |
| Regulator | 2 | adjust pressures | supercheap auto | $30 each or $30 for 2 | https://www.supercheapauto.com.au/p/blackridge-air-regulator/340078.html or | |
| APD or Photodiode | 1 minumum | convert photons to current | many sources including old instruments | $15 each | APDs used are AD500-8 TO52 package or BNC PD package | |
| Laser 532nm (or equivalent) | 1 | AIXIZ lasers | $38.50USD | https://www.aixiz.store/product-page/532nm-5-25mw-adjustable-power-3vdc-line-cross-attachable-ad-532-25adj | ||
| Electronics shopping list (per detector) | ||||||
| Prototyping board | 1 | $8.19 | ||||
| RJ45 breakout | 2 | $1.33 | https://core-electronics.com.au/breakout-board-for-rj45.html |  | ||
| LT1364CN8#PBF-ND | 2 | opamp used for I>V and for amplification | DIGIKEY | #13.73 each | https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/linear-technology-analog-devices/LT1364CN8-PBF/LT1364CN8-PBF-ND/891887 | |
| Cat7 RJ45 cable | 1 | $8 | Amazon/Ebay | |||
| Adjustable 10^5 25 turn resistor | <$1 | Jaycar (generic electronics parts store) | ||||
| Adjustable 10^3 25 turn resistor | <$1 | Jaycar (generic electronics parts store) | ||||
| 1N4148 diodes | 4 | <$1 | Jaycar (generic electronics parts store) | |||
| 10pF ceramic capacitors | 2 | <$1 | Jaycar (generic electronics parts store) | |||
| 10K resistor (1% tolerance) | 3 | <$1 | Jaycar (generic electronics parts store) | |||
| 100K resistor | 2 | <$1 | Jaycar (generic electronics parts store) | |||
| 1K resistor | 1 | <$1 | Jaycar (generic electronics parts store) | |||
| 22K resistor | 1 | <$1 | Jaycar (generic electronics parts store) | |||
| 0.22uF ceramic cap | 1 | <$1 | Jaycar (generic electronics parts store) | |||
| 1uF ceramic cap | 1 | <$1 | Jaycar (generic electronics parts store) | |||
| 2 pin molex pcb header 2.54mm pitch | 1 | $0.20 | https://www.jaycar.com.au/2-pin-0-1-straight-locking-header-2-54-pitch-single/p/HM3412 | |||
| 3pin molex header female 2.54mm pitch | 1 | used to connect to APD | $0.55 | https://www.jaycar.com.au/3-pin-0-1-header-with-crimp-pins-2-54-pitch/p/HM3403 |  | |
| hookup wire and crimpers | $0 | Spares in every household | ||||
| 9V battery connectors | 4 | buy different types of connectors to ensure flat 80-90V power supply | $1.40 | |||
| 8 pin IC housing | 2 | mount for IC chips | $1.25 | https://www.jaycar.com.au/8-pin-gold-insert-machined-pin-ic-socket/p/PI6452 | ||
| 4 or 6 way DIP switch | 1 | used to turn power on / off | $1.65 | https://www.altronics.com.au/p/s3050-4-way-dip-switch/ | ||
| shielded RJ45 port | 2 | needed to suppress noise | $1.75 | https://www.altronics.com.au/p/p1538-oupiin-8p8c-rj45-modular-socket-shielded-pcb-mount/ | ||
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