Embarking on this module and project was extremely daunting for us given that most of us had no experience building hardware from scratch. Not only that, but given that 4 out of 5 members in the group is from pure science background (chemistry and biology), we lacked any form of understanding of the inner functionings of hardware and its components. Although we were comfortable with concepts like serial dilution and concentration gradients, designing and building a physical device form scratch required us to step out of our comfort zone. From learning how to work with the the different parts individually, to putting the whole device together as a whole, the process was indeed a steep learning curve for many of us. However, through this project, we were all able to pick up many new technical skills in areas including programming and electronics.

Using Fusion 360 was initially an intimidating endeavour, as we had no prior experience with the software. However, the process of designing essential components, such as the base and the pipette holder, gradually demystified the software’s capabilities and enhanced our planning skills. As the project progressed, we got the hang of the software and were even able to come up with creative solutions to solve problems. For example, the base was too large to be printed in one piece, so we designed an innovative locking mechanism that allowed us to print the parts separately and join them together.

Given that we only had 1 Computer Science major in our group, some of us took the initiative to study the hardware components and learn how to piece them together. For the first time, we learnt how to put together an Arduino, and the term “stepping”. This seemingly simple task was not an easy feat for us considering how many of these terms are extremely foreign and new to us. However, after much time and effort invested, we were successful in mastering this new skill.

The value in this project lies in the fact that not only were the 4 pure science majors able to pick up new technical and mechanical skills, but the 1 Computer Science major that we had was also able to learn things along the way. From researching to experimentation, he was exposed to the Marlin firmware, something that he had never worked with before this project. There were many opportunities along the way for him to hone his coding skills, and pick up new skills beyond the syllabus of his modules. Although all of this required a lot of troubleshooting and debugging of the code, the takeaways were worthwhile.

This project has also taught us a valuable lesson on the importance of patience, as the numerous challenges and setbacks we faced along the way required due patience to maneouver around. Often, the pieces that we 3D printed did not fit the pipette or frame, which required a long a tedious trial-and-error process to fix. Furthermore, the mechanics were not perfect and functional from the start, but with much patience, we were able to perfect it throughout the project term.

We also learnt the importance of teamwork, and the value of complementing each others’ strengths and weaknesses within a team. After allocating the bulk of coding part of the project to our only Computer Science major, the rest of us had to find ways to split the other parts. Some of us learnt how to use Fusion360 to 3D model, the others studied the hardware and learnt how to piece the individual components slowly bit by bit. This collaborative process enabled us to successfully put together our device, with everyone taking away a new skill from it.

This journey was not an easy one for many of us, and the process took longer than we had expected. Initially when coming up with our original design, we were hopeful and confident in it, but when we actually got started on the project, we discovered many issues that we had not considered or overlooked during the designing stage. However, the kind guidance of the course coordinators and lab mentors helped expose us to a new way of thinking, and numerous ways to work around the issues that we face. We owe the success of this project to not only our team members, but the seniors and staff that were present in MnT lab to guide us along the way, as they also taught many of the skills that we picked up.