Re: [DIYbio] Why are PCR machines and biotech equipment in general so expensive

Hi all!

Andreas, did you build your own thermocycler ?
I only ask because I wonder how many of us have successfully tried it.

In my chest there beat 2 hearts:

one says
"I am DIY enthusiast, I want to be able to do anything on
my own - at least I want to have the know-how"

 

the other heart says:

"I tried to build so many things and always did I end up
as machine engineer and problem solver"

I have seen OpenPCR and many similar projects on youtube
and I still think these are too expensive.

I dont think the peltier and the heat block are enough -

I suspect that rapid cooling and distributing heat
evenly might be the major issues.

Once I find the time I will bend a thin copper pipe to rings
in order to take up the reaction tubes and let some cooling
liquid run through these pipes in order to heat and to cool.
(Arduino drives peltier and a pump ...)

Maybe I am off topic because I am not really that
familiar with lab technology, if so, please let me know.

The basic idea of my design will be to spread heat and
the cooling evenly - as good as possible.

if somebody is intersted then please, suggest a
discussion forum where DIY-builders can discuss
the "Easy LiquidThermoCycler"

Gerald





 

 

Sent: Saturday, April 22, 2017 at 8:11 AM
From: "Mega [Andreas Stuermer]" <masterstorm123@gmail.com>
To: DIYbio <diybio@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: [DIYbio] Why are PCR machines and biotech equipment in general so expensive

Demand and supply. Everybody of 8 billion humans wants a smartphone and there is enourmous competition and pressure to make it as cheap as possible.

Way less demand for thermocyclers, so less companies building them. Then theres the grant system so it's not the researchers personal money and nobody says "are you stupid? I'm not gonna pay you 5000$ for a heat block and a peltier" and builds his own

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