A video view of a prototype micro touchscreen interface for a DIY PCR device - working with a 2.0" screen, and using UiFlow2 tools to build a small multi-page user interface, that's no-code and easy to customise. biomaker.org/airflow-pcr

Shrinking a PCR control interface down to the 2.0" M5Stack CoreS3 SE touchscreen is a bit of a challenge, with only 320x240 pixels, but integration of screen design and LVGL programming in UiFlow2 makes it easy to tweak the display interactively, without being buried in code. biomaker.org/software

Some info about alternative LED panels for the DIY Midi Grow-pods - used for split NFT hydroponic culture of Marchantia. marchantia.org/midi-nft-gro...

Use of a stackable GoPlus2 module allows no-code programming of servos and motors with three extra ports for general I/O. V. useful extension for fast prototyping of electromechanical stuff - especially with integrated design of flexible touchscreen interfaces. Example at: biomaker.org/airflow-pcr

A simple plug-in module for connecting and calibrating thermocouples for temperature control - used for my microreactor, but might be useful for other bioreactors and incubators. Calibration curves suggest that single point offset corrections are necessary - as well as easy. biomaker.org/airflow-pcr

New design for a DIY mini bioreactor from David Jordan in Cambridge - with accurate temperature control, gas composition monitoring, illumination, and pumps for feed and waste - ready for reactor networked arrays. Full details at: (notes.livingphysics.org/build_posts/...)

DIY guide for building specialised hardware on the back of a M5Stack Tab5 device (Carsen Groen, bouncing radio signals off the moon! - building a custom wide range dual RF sensor) moonbounce.dk/hamradio/dua...

The Tab5 and M5Stack modules share a common bus - so many kinds of modules can be plugged in to the touchscreen device, and UiFlow2 provides built-in no-code (Blockly) and Micropython support. Neat engineering, and eases the programming transition for biologists... biomaker.org/hardware

Using the M5Stack Tab5 device to prototype touchscreen control and display for a new AirFlowPCR device. M5Stack offer a plug-in dual thermocouple reader for monitoring temperatures. No-code programming and cost-effective. biomaker.org/airflow-pcr

Different sets of 3D printable test tube racks for Eppendorf, 15mL Falcon and 50mL Falcon tubes - useful point of reference with nice clean designs (from uranium235) makerworld.com/en/collectio...

First installment of a project to build a cheap and compact PCR device based on a 12V air heater module and switched air flow. biomaker.org/airflow-pcr

Nice design for long term solar-powered environmental monitoring with M5Stack hardware, flexible sensors, comms and AI analysis. PETG printed Stevenson shield. www.hackster.io/redknario/qu...

Design for a small 3D printed laminar flow unit that couples two 120mm computer fans to a cheap IKEA “uppåtvind” airfilter - shroud and floor could be added for sterile tissue culture work www.printables.com/model/149072...

Nice review preprint with a comparison of particle vs. continuum methods for computer modelling of molecular and cellular scale interactions. arxiv.org/pdf/2604.138...

An explanation of the split-flow NFT scheme that I've been using for Marchantia propagation - likely helpful for other bryophyte plants - and maybe adapted for seedlings, etc. if a more porous surface mat is used. Info and assembly instructions at: marchantia.org/spilt-nft

...and matching info about assembly pneumatic systems at: blog.rahix.de/pneumatics/

Lots of useful tips for better design of 3D prints - very useful long read for DIYers at blog.rahix.de/design-for-3...

Backpack modification to an M5Stack Tab5 - shows what's possible for this flexible device. In this case it is extended hardware and software for probing wireless networks - but the idea would also work for bioinstrumentation. From github.com/C5Lab/M5Mons...

Super Breadboard 2 for electronics prototyping with short circuit protection, accessory components and separation of input and output signals. From 8bitflux.com

Instructions for how to build a low-cost Raman spectrometer with lots of background information about using 3D printing to integrate electro-optical components, including a surplus B&W TEK spectrometer. From Jacob Busshart at github.com/jacobbusshar...

Rapid prototyping of an app using the M5Stack Tab5 with external sensor and custom touchscreen interface using UiFlow - this project using Micropython mainly, but similar to our plans at Biomaker.org - where no-code Blockly also figures. www.hackster.io/vsupacha/exp...

CryoSnap is an all-in-one thermoelectric (Peltier) development board that lets one rapidly assemble, power, and control a complete thermal system, then break it apart to stack directly into your design. Has impressive specs for precise temperature control. (cryosnap.sheetak.com)

Interesting design for a PicoLaser Engraver project on Kickstarter. Could be interesting for micro-machining or tissue ablation for biology. www.kickstarter.com/projects/tho...

DIY instructions for building an air purifier with 250mm extractor fan and HEPA filters - info could be useful for laminar flow or plant tissue culture culture cabinet design. makerworld.com/en/models/27... From Magmabow makerworld.com/en/@Magmabow

Description of how to build a micro-still for distilling from 25mL flask. With some neat tips for DIY temperature control and small-scale chemistry: youtu.be/PUDvvB-0ALw?... From Marb's Lab www.youtube.com/@Marbslab

Instructions have full assembly details including custom 3D files and details of sources for off-the-shelf components. Also details of background trials at marchantia.org

Also I've pulled together details of the low-cost LED lighting systems that have been integrated into the three different self-contained grow-pods. Might be useful for other plant and algal growing systems. Can be found at Marchantia.org

Marchantia plants grown on a large Super-NFT grow-pod using micro-perforated plastic film to supress algal growth, while rhizoids penetrate the support membrane and feed off nutrients flowing below. Grow healthily for months on a tabletop for spore production (marchantia.org)

There are three different size systems (mini, midi, super) to cope with different scales, up to about a kilogram of fresh weight of liverwort per tray for the super size. Can take plants through the entire life cycle - great for plant spore production.

I finished the next batch of instructions for DIY construction of 'grow-pods' for simple and improved hydroponic cultivation of Marchantia liverwort plants - needing to adjust for their lack root systems, so using specialised trays and membranes for fast growth (marchantia.org)