Open Hardware and technology development

We are keen users of modern user-oriented manufacturing systems such as 3D printing, laser cutting and custom electronic circuit design, as well as custom optics. Our designs range from state-of-the-art 2P customisations and visual stimulators to simple tools like 3D printed pipettes and adapters. All our produce is released under open hardware licences. Beside supporting our own science and the hope to save some money on equipment, we want to explore designs to see what can be useful for research and education in financially disadvantaged schools and labs around the world.

For an intro, see our first published paper on the subject as well as the official PLoS Open Hardware collection that we co-curate. Also, visit Open-labware.net as well as our GitHub

Related key publications

Janiak FK^§, Bartel P, Bale M, Yoshimatsu T, Komulainen EH, Zhou M, Staras K, Prieto Godino LL, Euler T, Maravall M, Baden T^§. Divergent excitation two photon microscopy for 3D random access mesoscale imaging at single cell resolution. bioRxiv doi: https:/doi.org/10.1101/821405. direct link. pdf.

Zimmermann MJY^§, Chagas AM, Bartel P, Pop S, Prieto Godino LL, Baden T^§. LED Zappelin’: An open source LED controller for arbitrary spectrum visual stimulation and optogenetics during 2-photon imaging. HardwareX e00127 (bioRxiv version). doi: direct link. pdf.

Franke K*, Chagas AM*, Zhao Z, Zimmermann MJY, Bartel P, Qiu Y, Szatko K, Baden T, Euler T^§. An arbitrary-spectrum spatial visual stimulator for vision research. eLife 8:e48779. (bioRxiv version). direct link. pdf.

Nevala NE^§ and Baden T^§. A low-cost hyperspectral scanner for natural imaging above and under water. Scientific Reports (9) 10799. (biorXiv version). direct link. pdf.

Baden T^§, James B, Zimmermann M, Bartel P, Griseels D, Lagnado L* and Maravall M*. Spikeling: a low-cost hardware implementation of a spiking neuron for neuroscience teaching and outreach. PLoS Biology  doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.2006760. (bioRxiv version). direct link. pdf.

Chagas AM^§, Prieto Godino LL, Arrenberg AB and Baden T^§. The 100 Euro Lab: A 3-D Printable Open Source Platform For Fluorescence Microscopy, Optogenetics And Accurate Temperature Control During Behaviour Of Zebrafish, Drosophila And C. elegans. PLoS Biology. direct link. (bioRxiv version). pdf.

Forman CJ^§, Tomes H, Mbobo B, Burman, RJ, Jacobs M, Baden T^§, Raimondo JV^§. Openspritzer: an open hardware pressure ejection system for reliably delivering picolitre volumes. Scientific Reports.  7:2188. direct link. (bioRxiv version). pdf.

Reviews

Euler T^§, Franke K, Baden T. Studying a light sensor with light: multiphoton imaging in the retina. In Multiphoton Microscopy, Ed. Espen Hartveit, Neuromethods book series, NM (148), Springer Nature. pp 225-250. (preprints.org version). direct link. pdf .

Chagas AM (2018). Haves and have nots must find a better way: the case for open scientific hardware. PloS Biology doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3000014. direct link.

Baden T^§, Chagas AM, Gage G, Marzullo T, Prieto Godino LL, Euler T. Open Labware – 3D printing your own lab equipment. PLoS Biology. 13(3):e1002086.doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.1002086.  pdf; direct link.

Main people involved in open hardware and technology development