OpenBuilds based design for automated storage of microplates in a stack.

Instructions are a work in progress!

You will need:
All the STL files, printed with decent infill. 1 copy of each apart from plateholder.scad where you will need a set of 4 to support 6 plates. 8, for 12, 12 for 18, etc.

Lots of 20x20 V slot extrusion (you can decide the dimensions, but the width between the uprights should probably be 100mm)
A load of M5 V-slot T-nuts, M5 bolts, and right angle brackets
A few M3 bolts for mounting motors
2 mini-V gantries, one for Z axis and one for X axis
2 NEMA17 motors
GT2 timing belt and one pulley
X axis: 2 606ZZ bearings as further timing belt pulleys, and some M6 bolts to hang them on, and washers to keep the belt in place.
Z axis: 8mm ACME leadscrew and nut, 608ZZ bearing to hold it at the top.

The plate that actually picks up the plate needs to be thin, so probably has to be made of (stainless) steel. It should be narrow enough to fit between the plate holder pieces. I bought an offcut with 1.6mm thickness and cut it with an angle-grinder, then drilled holes in it to connect to the X gantry and to the belt clamp piece.

Paint the plateholder.stl files (which mount to the open beam) in PlastiDip paint so they grip better. Same for the stainless steel plate.

Control it with a 3D printer board, e.g. RAMPs and Arduino.

More to come.