Bill of materials
The LabEmbryoCam is built using commonly available and low-cost consumer electronics, mechanical parts and 3D printed parts. Links and prices are provided as a guide, but prices vary and there is also significant scope for changing components, or suppliers due to availability, price, or user requirements.
A significant assortment of screws, nuts and washers are required to build a LabEmbryoCam. To simplify the process of sourcing these parts, a kit of the required fixings can be bought here: https://www.modelfixings.co.uk/embryophenomics.htm
To reduce the number of orders required to source these parts, parts are grouped to a few key suppliers and these are indicated in the bill of materials. Most parts are, however, available from a range of suppliers. There is also considerable scope for changing parts to suit your use case, or budget.
The bill of materials is detailed here:
Category |
Description |
Number |
Supplier |
Indv Price |
Total Price |
Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mechanical |
2040 extrusion x 420mm (uprights) |
4 |
Aluminium-profile |
£6.64 |
£26.56 |
https://www.aluminium-profile.co.uk/20x40-aluminium-profile-kjn992891 |
Mechanical |
2020 extrusion x 336mm (front-back laterals) |
8 |
Aluminium-profile |
£5.54 |
£44.32 |
https://www.aluminium-profile.co.uk/20x20-aluminium-profile-kjn992888# |
Mechanical |
2040 extrusion x 356mm (cross-beams) |
6 |
Aluminium-profile |
£5.80 |
£34.80 |
https://www.aluminium-profile.co.uk/20x40-aluminium-profile-kjn992891 |
Mechanical |
2020 extrusion x 340mm (sample holders & x-axis) |
3 |
Aluminium-profile |
£3.84 |
£11.52 |
https://www.aluminium-profile.co.uk/20x20-aluminium-profile-kjn992888# |
Mechanical |
X, Y, Z Linear rails |
3 |
Amazon |
£15.99 |
£47.97 |
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Miniature-Sliding-Bearing-Carriage-Accessories/dp/B0B4K37V1G |
Mechanical |
Sorbothane isolators - set of 4 |
1 |
Thorlabs |
£23.59 |
£23.59 |
|
Mechanical |
Timing belt |
1 |
PiHut |
£3.50 |
£3.50 |
https://thepihut.com/products/gt2-6mm-timing-belt-5m-reel?variant=41899086053571 |
Motion |
XY stepper motors |
2 |
RepRap World |
£14.00 |
£28.00 |
|
Motion |
Z stepper motor - 21 oz |
1 |
RepRap World |
£12.50 |
£12.50 |
|
Motion |
Minitronics CNC board |
1 |
RepRap World |
£44.00 |
£44.00 |
|
Motion |
Limit switches |
3 |
RepRap World |
£2.20 |
£6.60 |
https://reprapworld.co.uk/electronics/3d-printer-modules/endstops/miniature-microswitch/ |
Motion |
Limit switch cables |
3 |
RepRap World |
£1.50 |
£4.50 |
|
Motion |
Stepper motor cables |
3 |
RepRap World |
£2.50 |
£7.50 |
|
Motion |
Limit switch mounts |
1 |
RepRap World |
£4.10 |
£4.10 |
|
Motion |
Flexible motor coupling for Z axis |
1 |
Ooznest |
£3.60 |
£3.60 |
|
Motion |
Bearing mount for Z-axis smooth rod |
1 |
RepRap World |
£7.30 |
£7.30 |
|
Motion |
Timing pulley |
2 |
RepRap World |
£5.40 |
£5.40 |
https://reprapworld.co.uk/mechanical/pulleys/gt2-pulley-15mm-height-16-teeth-6-mm-belt-5-mm-id/ |
Motion |
Leadscrew(8mm) for Z-axis (85 mm needed) |
1 |
RepRap World |
£14.99 |
£14.99 |
|
Motion |
Leadscrew(8mm) nut for carriage |
1 |
RepRap World |
£5.30 |
£5.30 |
https://reprapworld.co.uk/mechanical/linear-motion/tr8x8-leadscrew-nut-8mm/ |
Motion |
Smooth steel rod (2 x 128, 2 x 106) mm needed) |
1 |
RepRap World |
£6.50 |
£6.50 |
https://reprapworld.co.uk/mechanical/frames-and-bars/smooth-rods/mild-steel-smooth-rod-8-mm-100-cm/ |
Motion |
3mm Cable ties |
1 |
Amazon |
£4.99 |
£4.99 |
https://www.amazon.co.uk/100-Pack-Black-Cable-Ties/dp/B08H7Z6BV9 |
Motion |
F623ZZ (10pcs) |
2 |
RepRap World |
£4.40 |
£8.80 |
|
Motion |
Linear bearing (2pcs) |
2 |
RepRap World |
£2.20 |
£4.40 |
|
Compute |
Raspberry Pi 4 8GB |
1 |
Robotshop |
£106.24 |
£106.24 |
https://www.robotshop.com/uk/raspberry-pi-4-b-8gb-computer-board.html |
Compute |
250 TB SSD |
1 |
PiHut |
£29.90 |
£29.90 |
|
Electrical |
Arduino Wingshield HAT |
2 |
PiHut |
£14.70 |
£29.40 |
https://shop.pimoroni.com/products/proto-screwshield-wingshield-kit?variant=382366184 |
Electrical |
Arduino UNO for CNC, light and joystick |
3 |
RS Components |
£24.24 |
£72.72 |
|
Electrical |
USB A cables (0.5m) for Arduino to Pi connection |
3 |
Amazon |
£3.99 |
£11.97 |
https://www.amazon.co.uk/rhinocables-Speed-Printer-Connectors-Male/dp/B08DCGYQ53/ |
Electrical |
SSD to USB 3.0 cable |
1 |
PiHut |
£6.00 |
£6.00 |
https://thepihut.com/products/ssd-to-usb-3-0-cable-for-raspberry-pi |
Electrical |
ATX power supply splitter |
1 |
Robotshop |
£20.35 |
£20.35 |
https://www.robotshop.com/uk/sparkfun-atx-power-connector-breakout-kit-12v-5v-4-pin.html |
Electrical |
USB-C cables for connecting to ATX 5V output |
1 |
Robotshop |
£2.78 |
£2.78 |
|
Electrical |
Raspberry Pi HQ camera |
1 |
PiHut |
£57.00 |
£57.00 |
https://thepihut.com/products/raspberry-pi-high-quality-camera-module |
Electrical |
XY axes joystick |
1 |
PuHut |
£20.30 |
£20.30 |
https://thepihut.com/products/mini-analog-joystick-10k-potentiometers |
Electrical |
Z-axis buttons |
1 |
PiHut |
£4.00 |
£4.00 |
|
Electrical |
Industrial grade USB hub |
1 |
PiHut |
£18.50 |
£18.50 |
https://thepihut.com/products/industrial-grade-dual-host-usb-hub-4x-usb-2-0? |
Optics |
Pimorini microscope lens |
1 |
Pimorini |
£22.50 |
£22.50 |
https://shop.pimoroni.com/products/microscope-lens-0-12-1-8x?variant=31885093371987 |
Optics |
LED 2 inch light |
1 |
CoolComponents |
£18.66 |
£18.66 |
|
Optics |
CSI to HDMI Adapter for Pi HQ Camera |
1 |
PiHut |
£15.00 |
£15.00 |
https://thepihut.com/products/csi-to-hdmi-adapter-board-raspberry-pi-hq-camera |
Lid |
Acrylic sheet(5mm - 357 x 362 & 357 x 120, polished edges) |
1 |
PlasticPeople |
£14.00 |
£14.00 |
https://www.theplasticpeople.co.uk/clear-as-glass-acrylic-perspex/ |
Lid |
Hinges |
2 |
PiHut |
£1.00 |
£2.00 |
https://thepihut.com/products/plastic-hinge-for-20x20-aluminum-extrusion |
Lid |
Hose barb |
1 |
Amazon |
£7.99 |
£7.99 |
|
Humificiation chamber |
Glass lid (4mm float glass - 128 x 85 mm) |
1 |
Local supplier |
£5.00 |
£5.00 |
|
Humidification chamber |
Dreschel gas washing bottle 100ml |
1 |
RapidOnline |
£21.80 |
£21.80 |
https://www.rapidonline.com/simax-drechsel-gas-washing-bottle-100ml-52-0982 |
Fixings |
From Fixings sheet |
1 |
ModelFixings |
£62.34 |
£69.12 |
|
Filament |
Carbon PETG Filament |
3 |
Filamentive |
£32.39 |
£97.17 |
https://www.filamentive.com/product-category/carbon-fibre-3d-printer-filament/ |
Panels |
3mm plastic panels |
1 |
SimplyPlastics |
£40.00 |
£40.00 |
|
Electrical |
Raspberry Pi Heatsink and Fan |
1 |
PiHut |
£9.50 |
£9.50 |
https://thepihut.com/products/raspberry-pi-4-extreme-cooling-heat-sink-fan-kit |
Electrical |
Figure of eight power cable for ATX adapter |
1 |
Amazon |
£3.38 |
£3.38 |
https://www.amazon.co.uk/pro-elec-Figure-Mains-Charger-Black/dp/B074QS4V1H/ |
TOTAL |
£1,066.02 |
The fixings required to assemble a LabEmbryoCam are detailed below. The full list of fixings can be purchased as a kit from: https://www.modelfixings.co.uk/embryophenomics.htm
Component description |
Number |
|---|---|
M2.5 x 12 Stainless Steel Button Head Screws |
2 |
M3 x 16 Stainless Steel Button Head Screws |
6 |
M3 x 18 Stainless Steel Button Head Screws |
4 |
M5 x 10 Stainless Steel Button Head Screws |
262 |
M5 x 12 Stainless Steel Button Head Screws |
52 |
M5 x 20 Stainless Steel Button Head Screws |
2 |
M6 x 10 Stainless Steel Button Head Screws |
4 |
M6 x 35 Stainless Steel Button Head Screws |
4 |
M2.5x5 Stainless Steel Cap Screws |
2 |
M2.5x10 Stainless Steel Cap Screws |
2 |
M2.5x12 Stainless Steel Cap Screws |
4 |
M3 x 10 Stainless Steel Cap Screws |
8 |
M3 x 12 Stainless Steel Cap Screws |
15 |
M3 x 16 Stainless Steel Cap Screws |
14 |
M3 x 35 Stainless Steel Cap Screws |
8 |
M3 x 40 Stainless Steel Cap Screws |
2 |
M3 x 50 Stainless Steel Cap Screws |
2 |
M5 x 8 Stainless Steel Cap Screws |
8 |
M5 x 10 Stainless Steel Cap Screws |
46 |
M5 x 12 Stainless Steel Cap Screws |
2 |
M5 x 16 Stainless Steel Cap Screws |
4 |
M3x8 Stainless Countersunk Screws |
62 |
M4 x 40 Stainless Hexagon Head Screw |
2 |
M3 Stainless Steel Square Nuts |
36 |
M3 Stainless Steel Hexagon Nuts |
18 |
M4 Stainless Steel Hexagon Nuts |
2 |
M5 Stainless Steel Hexagon Nuts |
2 |
M3 Stainless Steel Hexagon Nyloc Nuts |
3 |
M3 Stainless Steel Flat Washers |
36 |
FIXINGS COST |
£69.12 |
Design files
STLs are the 3D model files, provided for producing the 3D printed parts. There are > 70 3D printed parts, with many requiring multiple copies. The (n) in the name of some parts indicates the number of that part that needs printing. For each section in this build guide, the required parts are listed. See the build guide for further information on 3D printing these parts.
A .STEP CAD file for the LabEmbryoCam is also provided. Within this online build guide, the design file is shown with particular focus on the relevant aspect of the instrument to help with understanding the assembly process. The CAD file enables manipulation of the model to identify particular features and to clearly see the location of parts during the build process.
Continue to: LabEmbryoCam Frame