Feature

Motion solution specification for electronic pipettes

Ubiquitous throughout laboratories in specialisations such as life sciences and clinical diagnostics, pipettes are a vital tool for transferring liquid samples. Repeated activation of manual devices presents a strain for lab technicians, and while electronic pipettes improve ease of use, they also increase the accuracy and repeatability of dispensing.

03/11/2022 11:31:44

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To optimise the requirements of liquid dispensing and meet the needs of ergonomic design, specifying the right motion system is crucial. Here, Bill Burton of Portescap explains the ideal motion system
specification process for electronic pipette design.

Within sectors such as life sciences and clinical diagnostics, many laboratories are turning to electronic pipettes. Traditionally manually operated, these fundamental tools for transferring liquid samples
are today equipped with functions that enhance the ease, speed and accuracy for lab technicians.

Electric actuation relieves the strain of the thumb press on a mechanical device, experienced by technicians hundreds of
times per day, by ensuring precise and reliable automated dispensing. The motion system is central to an electronic pipette’s function, and its specification has wide-ranging implications for the device’s other features that
are built around it. For this reason, involving motion system design as early as possible within the development process will lead to a more effective and efficient outcome.

Read the full article in DPA's November issue

Written By Sophia Bell

Sophia Bell is the Group Editor of DPA, Connectivity, and PBSI. She joined the team in 2020 as Assistant Editor after achieving a First-Class Honours BA in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. In her current role, she leads the editorial strategy, driving digital growth and ensuring each title continues to deliver trusted, relevant insight for engineering and manufacturing professionals.