Thomas Nguyen developed his own device after failing to find an affordable centrifuge suitable for separating and analyzing T cells from blood. The design uses a Raspberry Pi Pico, 3D printer, A2212 brushless motor, and 30-amp electronic speed controller to process blood in 15 mL conical tubes. The fixed-angle device can reach the speed required for separation. For safety, it includes an MPU-6050 that detects vibrations and stops the system in the event of a dangerous imbalance, as well as an IR sensor that monitors and controls rotational speed. The first version is working, but the project is still under development. Nguyen will conduct safety and separation tests with dyed water and glycerol before using real blood products.
Why it matters
The project presents a prototype approach showing that blood separation processes used in laboratories can be addressed without relying on high-cost commercial devices. In this respect, it is of interest particularly to researchers seeking affordable equipment and technical communities developing similar setups. However, the fact that the device has not yet been tested with real blood products leaves open whether its cell-separation performance and safety measures are adequate for practical use. Tests with dyed water and glycerol will help assess how the design behaves under controlled conditions; the next stage of the project will depend on whether these results can be transferred to real biological samples.
Background
DIY is not a new name in the FikirPilot archive: we have published 2 reports mentioning it in the last 90 days; the most recent was dated September 4, 2026.