A New DIY 3D-Printed Lab Tool from Quave Lab
Learn about a new open source tool created by my lab to accelerate natural product discovery!
Hot off the presses! Check out this new publication from Quave Lab on a new low-cost 3D-printed customizable tool we made to accelerate the isolation of molecules from complex mixtures. The scientific article is available through open access—no paywalls—anyone can access and read it in full!
Crandall, W.J., M. Caputo, L. Marquez, Z.R. Jarrell, and C.L. Quave. (2025) Customizable large-scale HPLC fraction collection using low-cost 3D printing. HardwareX, Volume 21, e00612
Affordable and Versatile Fraction Collector for Automated Sample Collection
Our laboratory developed a fraction collector for isolating natural products, which can also be paired with any liquid chromatography (LC) system and customized for automated sample collection. Isolating natural products is challenging due to their low abundance, often less than 1% of the starting material, making repeated, automated collection essential.
Using 3D printing enabled the creation of this fraction collector at a low cost. A $99 Ender 3 Pro 3D printer was used to fabricate components, demonstrating the affordability and accessibility of modern printers for laboratory applications. Hobbyist-grade printers, available for $100–$200, make it possible to design custom lab equipment, such as assay plates or sensors. Salvaging parts from the printer reduced costs, and detailed records allow replication. This approach highlights the potential of 3D printing to advance scientific research by enabling cost-effective and adaptable solutions.
Tackling a Chemical Discovery Bottleneck
High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) has been widely used for separating molecules, especially in isolating natural products from complex samples. Preparative HPLC, which uses higher flow rates and larger columns, allows researchers to isolate sufficient quantities of compounds. However, manual collection of eluates is time-consuming and limits reproducibility, making automated fraction collectors essential for efficiency.
Commercial fraction collectors, like the $3,500 AKTA Frac-950, are costly, limited in bottle compatibility, and lack customizability. Open-source solutions offer a low-cost alternative, providing similar functionality with greater flexibility and up to 37 liters of solvent collection capacity. Unlike commercial models, this open-source fraction collector is easy to program and adaptable for various bottle types, making it ideal for complex sample separations.
Existing DIY fraction collectors often have limitations, such as small collection vessels, niche applications, or incompatibility with gradient elution systems used in preparative HPLC. By focusing on time-based collection, this open-source device simplifies integration with various liquid chromatography systems, including HPLCs and flash chromatography setups like Biotage Isolera or Teledyne ISCO CombiFlash. This innovation addresses cost and usability barriers, empowering researchers to scale isolation methods efficiently without sacrificing quality.
Advances in Tech Development
We previously developed a fraction collector for high-volume preparative HPLC using a children’s toy set: LEGOs! Our new 3-D printed version of the fraction collector is much easier to use, as collection times for each fraction can be quickly programmed by simply entering the desired durations. This is a major improvement over our earlier model, which relied on LEGOMINDSTORMS© block-based programming, a more time-consuming process for setting up collection methods.
Advantages of the New Fraction Collector Model:
Lower Cost: Constructed at a significantly reduced cost compared to commercial options.
Ease of Construction: Requires no coding, soldering, or advanced wiring, making it accessible to a wider range of researchers.
User-Friendly: Simplified setup and operation, eliminating technical barriers for users.
High Volume Capacity: Can hold bottles up to ~470 mL, supporting high flow rates (5–50 mL/min) typical of preparatory HPLCs.
Reduced Maintenance: Allows iterative collections without frequent replacement of bottles or the need to combine fractions manually.
3D Printer-Based Build: Utilizes an affordable 3D printer as the base, with customizable parts and easily available firmware and software.
Scalability: Designed for high-throughput applications, complementing the capabilities of preparative HPLC systems.
Customizable Design: Parts can be 3D printed and assembled, offering flexibility and adaptability to specific research needs.
The Wrap Up
One of my favorite aspects of this project was how the team not only built the fraction collector base at a low cost using a 3D printer but also scavenged parts from the printer itself to program and operate the new unit. This project exemplifies how creativity, resourcefulness, and ingenuity can come together to deliver a simple and cost effective solution to a major bottleneck in our drug discovery process.
Yours in health, Dr. Quave
Cassandra L. Quave, Ph.D. is a Guggenheim Fellow, CNN Champion for Change, Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, recipient of The National Academies Award for Excellence in Science Communication, and award-winning author of The Plant Hunter. Her day job is as professor and herbarium curator at Emory University School of Medicine, where she leads a group of research scientists studying medicinal plants to find new life-saving drugs from nature. She hosts the Foodie Pharmacology podcast and writes the Nature’s Pharmacy newsletter to share the science behind natural medicines. To support her effort, consider a paid or founding subscription to Nature’s Pharmacy or donation to her lab research.
Available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and e-book formats!
That is amazing! Great job to all!