Syringe Pump
Low price, high precision, programmable laboratory syringe pump
Precision lab syringe pumps available in single or dual pump models for infusion and extrusion of solutions
The Ossila Syringe Pump is a low price, high precision, fully programmable laboratory syringe pump designed to make life easier by enabling the automatic dispensing of solutions. The syringe pump is available as either a single or dual pump system and is suitable for nearly any experiment that requires the infusion or extrusion of liquids. Both models are covered by our free two year warranty and qualify for free worldwide shipping.
Built with the same stepper motor as our Dip Coater and Slot-Die Coater, the Ossila Syringe Pump is a small, straight-forward, and self-contained unit. The user has control over each individual step of the motor, which can be set to move in either a steady or pulsed motion. In addition, when the dual pump model is used with two syringes, each can be programmed and operated completely independently of the other. The on-board software and easy-to-use digital controls mean that the syringe pump is quick to set up, and can be programmed in minutes without needing to be connected to an external computer.
What is a Syringe Pump?
Syringe pumps (also known as syringe drivers) are used to move fixed volumes of solutions at a specified rate. Scientific syringe pumps generally offer a high degree of control and precision, and are frequently used in the lab to acquire reliable and easily repeatable results that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to obtain. Precision-programmable dual syringe pumps that are capable of both infusion and withdrawal are extremely versatile, and are an essential piece of equipment for accurately dispensing or extracting solutions.
Syringe pumps are built around a motor that can either insert or retract a plunger from a syringe. By knowing the internal diameter of the syringe and the distance moved by the motor, the volume and rate at which a solution is moved can be calculated.
Key Features
The Ossila Syringe Pump can dramatically improve the reproducibility and quality of your results, helping you to obtain publication-quality data more quickly.
Affordable
Available from just £1600 with free worldwide shipping
Easy-to-use
Plug-and-play with inbuilt programming software and intuitive digital interface
Adaptable
Designed to accommodate a range of syringes with sizes from 5µl to 50ml
Completely programmable
Able to store 20 different programs, each of which can contain up to 100 individual steps
Quality assured
Covered by our two-year warranty
Precise
Delivers continuous flow rates ranging from nanolitres per minute to millilitres per second
Versatile
Supports infusion and withdrawal with each pump on dual models able to operate independently
Highly controllable
Allows accurate control of solution dispense volume, rate and time
In-built Software
The Ossila Syringe Pump has been designed to be a completely self-contained unit so no external controls are required in order to operate the system.
Ossila's intuitive syringe pump software allows for the easy programming of complex multi-step experiments without needing to connect it to an external computer or laptop. The software can save and store up to 20 different programs to the unit's in-built memory, each with a total of 100 individual steps. This allows for the programming of complex processes, such as sequential deposition of multilayered structures. Each step allows the user to select a dispense rate, a dispense time, and/or a dispense volume.
Combining a colour LCD display, easy-to-use touch pad, and intuitive user interface allows for rapid navigation through the options and settings. This lets you set up and run new experiments quickly and easily.
You are able to set the syringe size either from a range of preset sizes, or by entering a custom size. Additionally, the maximum force provided can be controlled, allowing the user to protect glass syringes from potential damage. A manual mode has also been added, allowing the position of the syringe pump to be set up quickly for faster loading and unloading of syringes.
Applications
Many experiments require either precision timing or a slow and controlled hours-long dispense of solutions to produce repeatable and reliable results.
Syringe pumps are often used in the processing of perovskite structures. A syringe pump can be used to dispense a non-solvent at a precise time for perovskite anti-quenching during spin coating, and for perovskite single-crystal growth in a solution, a solvent can be added slowly over a period of several days.
Other possible applications include:
- Solution dispensing
- Solution mixing
- Emulsification
- Metered coatings
- Automated spin coating
- Solution quenching
- Electrospinning
- Electrospraying
- Microfluidics
- Flow chemistry
Syringe Compatability
The Ossila Syringe Pump is compatible with a range of syringes, including:
- Norm-Ject syringes
- Henke Sass Wolf (HSW)
- Terumo Plastic
- Hamilton Gastight
- Hamilton Microliter
- Air-Tite Syringes
- BD Plastic
- BD Glass
- SGE Syringes
- and more...
Norm-Ject Syringes
- Solvent Resistant
- Luer Lock
- Range of Sizes
Available From £30.00
Getting Started with the Ossila Syringe Pump
With no external dependencies, the Ossila Syringe Pump is quick and easy to set up and use.
Begin by placing it on a flat and solid surface away from vibrations, temperature extremes and hazardous materials. Ensure that the unit is switched off, connect the power supply to the mains outlet, plug the power cable into the unit, and turn the syringe pump on. When booted, the LCD display will show the 'setting mode' screen.
From the 'setting mode' screen, you can set the force and select the diameter of syringe that you will be using. The most common sizes (1ml, 2ml, 5ml, 10ml, and 50ml) are pre-set, but you can also enter a custom diameter.
Pressing the manual button will switch the syringe pump to manual mode. Manual mode allows you to move the plunger forwards and backwards by pressing the forwards and backwards buttons on the front panel of the unit. This is particularly useful when attaching a syringe (see below).
Alternatively, pressing the program button will allow you to set up a routine or run a pre-saved program. Solution dispense volume, rate and time can be controlled at each step and the dual pump model allows for each pump to be programmed independently of the other. When you are satisfied with your program, just press START to run the sequence and the pump will operate automatically.
Attaching a Syringe to the System
Attaching a syringe to the Ossila Syringe Pump is straight-forward.
- First, pe-load the syringe with your solution. Make sure that there are no air bubbles before proceeding.
- Place the barrel of the syringe into the groove on the syringe holder, with the top inside the clamping mechanism. You can then lower the clamping arm onto the top of the syringe and lock it into place by tightening the wing nut.
- Enter manual mode on the syringe and drive the plunger holder until it rests against the end of the plunger. Once in place, tighten the clamping mechanism around the plunger. This should be parallel with the barrel of the syringe.
- Connect any additional tubing or fixtures required for your experiment, using manual mode to preload the fixtures and tubing with your solution.
Please see the product manual for more information.
Preventing Solution Dripping after the Syringe Pump has Stopped
When auto dispensing solvents, droplets are sometimes dispensed after the syringe pump has stopped. The cause of solution dripping can be due to several factors, including: the syringe type being used, the presence of air bubbles, the viscosity of the solution, the density of solution, and the surface tension.
The most common cause of this occurrence is when a pressure difference between the inside of the syringe and the outside remains after the solution has been dispensed. This can happen when air bubbles are trapped inside the solution, resulting in a compression of the gasses during dispensing. After the pump has stopped, the compressed air expands and pushes solution out of the syringe. Similarly, for plastic syringes and pipes, elastic deformation. Over time, this can result in dripping of the solution.
This can be avoided by removing bubbles within the syringe before loading, using tubing and syringes that show limited amounts of elastic deformation, and reducing the overall pressures within the syringe. To avoid a build-up build up in the syringe lower dispense rates should be used, the viscosity of solution can be reduced, or the velocity of the solution can be reduced by increasing the diameter of pipes and needles.
Sometimes, dripping can be due to the use of dense solutions with low surface tensions and viscosities. The adhesive forces between i) the molecules in the solution, and ii) the surface of the needle and tubing can become lower than the gravitational force acting upon the solution within the tube. This results in the continuous dripping of solution, until the gravitational force acting on the solution in the tubing becomes lower than the combined adhesive forces of the solution and the increasing pressure difference due to the displaced volume.
To reduce the effects of dripping from dense, low surface tension solutions, a lower diameter of tubing and needles should be used. Alternatively, the tubing and needle can be tilted horizontally to reduce the gravitational force being exerted in the direction of the tubing.
Resources and Support
Key Specifications
| Travel Per Revolution | 1 mm |
| Steps Per Revolution | 200 |
| Travel Per Step | 5 µm |
| Microsteps Per Step | 64 |
| Travel Per Microstep | 78 nm |
| Minimum Speed | 12 µm.s-1 |
| Maximum Speed | 5 mm.s-1* |
| Maximum Linear Force | 500 N |
* Maximum speed can exceed this dependent upon solution viscosity, syringe diameter, tube/needle diameter, and tube/needle length.
Hardware Specifications
| Syringes | 1 (L2003S1); 2(L2003D1) |
| Operation Modes | Infusion and Withdrawal |
| Rate Accuracy | ±3% |
| Drive Motor | 1.8° Stepper Motor |
| Max Linear Force | 500 N at 100% Force |
| Motor Drive Controller | Microprocessor with 1/64 microstepping |
| Number of Microsteps per Revolution | 12,800 |
| Screw Pitch | 1 mm |
| Distance per Microstep | 78 nm |
| Maximum Step Rate/Distance | 27 μstep.min-1; 5mm.s-1 |
| Minimum Step Rate/Distance | 27sec.μstep-1; 12μm.s-1 |
| Maximum Syringe Size | 50 (60)ml |
| Safety | Limit Switches; Crash Sensing |
| Power | 24 V DC; 2.0 A |
| Power Supply Input Voltage Range | 100 - 230V; 50/60Hz; 50VA |
| Operating Temperature/Humidity | 5°C to 40°C; Up to 80% RH @ 31°C |
| Overall Dimensions | 330 mm (w) x 140 mm (h) x 260 mm (d) |
In-built Software Specifications
| Number of Programmes | 10 |
| Steps per Programme | 100 |
| Syringe Control | Independent control |
| Syringe Size Settings | 5 pre-sets, 1 customisable diameter |
| Force Tuning | 5% to 100% (5% increments) |
| Minimum Syringe Size | 0.5μl |
| Memory | Non-volatile memory |
Maximum and Minimum Flow Rates
The maximum and minimum flow rates of the syringe pump is determined by both the stepping rate of the motor driving the syringe and the diameter of the syringe in use. For different volume syringes the maximum and minimum flow rates for the system will vary, below is a table that quickly summarises the flow rates achievable with different syringe sizes.
| Syringe Volume | Syringe Diameter | Minimum Flow Rate | Maximum Flow Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 µl | 0.103 mm | 0.1 nl.s-1 (0.14 µl.hr-1) | 41 nl.s-1 (0.15 ml.hr-1) |
| 10 µl | 0.46 mm | 1.98 nl.s-1 (6.8 µl.hr-1) | 0.83 µl.s-1 (3 ml.hr-1) |
| 100 µl | 1.46 mm | 19 nl.s-1 (68 µl.hr-1) | 8.3 µl.s-1 (29.8 ml.hr-1) |
| 1 ml | 4.61 | 0.2 µl.s-1 (0.72 ml.hr-1) | 83 µl.s-1 (298 ml.hr-1) |
| 5 ml | 10.3 | 1 µl.s-1 (3.6 ml.hr-1) | 0.42 ml.s-1 (1.5 l.hr-1) |
| 50 ml | 32.6 | 10 µl.s-1 (36 ml.hr-1) | 4.17 ml.s-1 (15 l.hr-1) |
As can be seen in the table by choosing the correct syringe diameter it is possible to achieve a range of dispense rates spanning 8 orders of magnitude.
Dispense Rate Accuracy
Just like the maximum and minimum dispense rates, the accuracy of dispensing depends on the accuracy of both the syringe pump and the syringe being used. The Ossila Syringe Pump has a stepping accuracy of 0.16% which gives a rate accuracy of 19 nm.s-1. However different syringes will have manufacturing tolerances on the internal diameter, the type of syringe used therefore will have a strong impact on the accuracy of flow rates.
Plastic disposable syringes commonly used due to their ease have the lowest tolerances with diameters that can vary by up to 3% depending upon the manufacturer, this can result in up to a 6% error in your dispense rate. Glass and stainless steel syringes have a higher tolerance with a maximum of 0.5% variation in the internal diameter, this results in a volume error of up to 1%.
Maximum Force Limitations
The maximum applicable force can be varied in the system for use as an additional safety feature. At its maximum the pump can apply over 500N of linear force to the syringe. For a 50ml syringe this equates to a pressure of 4.37 bar placed upon the piston, while for a 5ml syringe this becomes as high as 47 bar.
Most syringes are rated up to a certain maximum pressure, for plastic syringes this is 10 bar, glass syringes this can be as low as 1.5 bar or as high as 30 bar depending upon the make. Therefore setting maximum limitations within the software based upon the syringe manufacturers recommendations protects your syringes against damage.
To the best of our knowledge the information provided here is accurate. However, Ossila assume no liability for the accuracy of this page. The values provided are typical at the time of manufacture and may vary over time and from batch to batch. All products are for laboratory and research and development use only, and may not be used for any other purpose including health care, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food or commercial applications.