Stepper motors are advantageous because it allows for high precision, especially when working with refeeders where the angle of tilt is important to provide the pipette tips with enough potential energy to slide down the refeeder and back into the wheel. They are also advantageous for use with pipettes because it provides enough force to push on the ejection button on the micropipette.
We mainly use stepper motors for the following functions:
- Control the depression of the ejection button on the micropipette to eject pipette tips when necessary.
- Control timing of rotation and angle of tilt of the refeeders, coordinated with the rotation of the wheel.
- Control timing of rotation of the wheel, coordinated with the rotation of the refeeders.
- Control the movement of the 3D printer in the X, Y and Z axis.
The stepper motor attached to the Z-axis sliding plate to control depression of the eject button on the micropipette.
Stepper motor controlling the rotation of the refeeders, connected to the refeeders using a coupler
Stepper motor controlling the rotation of the wheel.
Stepper motors in the 3D printer.