3D Printed Analytical Instruments: Inexpensive, Customizable Tools for Active Laboratory Learning

Abstract

3D printing allows educators to produce affordable, adaptable analytical tools that increase student access to instrumentation and provide opportunities for greater engagement. Computer-aided design enables the creation of customized prototypes that explore learning objectives difficult to achieve with commercial instruments. By permitting access to internal components, these devices shift learning away from "black box" models and promote active experimentation through assembly, operation, and data acquisition. This chapter presents a progression of author-designed instruments, including student-assembled colorimeter and fluorometer kits, compact preassembled benchtop units, multifunctional combination systems, and microcontroller-integrated platforms. These inexpensive designs can be produced using consumer-grade printers and readily available electronic components. Despite their simplicity and low cost, they generate linear calibration curves, support quantitative analysis and kinetics experiments, and extend to other investigations across the chemistry curriculum. All models are appropriate for undergraduate laboratories, high school classrooms, and outreach activities. Digital files are available to educators upon request.