# Exploring the Utility of 3-D-printed Laboratory Equipment
## 1 Introduction  
3-D printing has been widely accepted as a new tool to expedite time-consuming experimental processes, which often require custom-designed equipment, unique sample holders, and special types of motion controllers [1]. Conventional procedure requires machining or manufacturing a design prototype that needs to be tested on the experiment. This is an iterative process sometimes requiring multiple trials. Applications of 3-D printing range from conventional opto-mechanical lab experiments [2; 3], biomedical applications, which include dental and special instruments [2; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8], to biological and pharmaceutical experiments, which require a wet laboratory [9; 10; 11; 12]. For these applications, laboratory translation stages are a common piece of equipment used to accurately position samples and instruments. The precise motion of the stages enables researchers to adjust the relative position of the sample and instrument with respect to Cartesian coordinates, as well as to collect more data in different positions and conditions without disassembling and recalibrating the whole system. Among all the stages, XYZ translation linear stages are most commonly used. This stage can position samples or instruments linearly in 3 dimensions. While maintaining a high standard accuracy, this type of stage is also user friendly; the user can simply turn three handles to translate the stage with precision in 3 dimensions. However, prices for XYZ translation linear stages are high, even unaffordable for some labs. The cost of a one-dimension linear stage is over $100, while that for an XYZ three-dimension one will exceed $500.  
To provide better affordability and wider usage of linear stages, a 3-D printing method can be used. The advantages of 3-D printing include but are not limited to reducing the complexity of product manufacturing, shortening production time and improving efficiency, reducing product manufacturing processes, and allowing immediate production [13; 14; 15]. These points make possible the production of laboratory XYZ translation linear stages by 3-D printing, as well as reducing the unit cost per stage. Another widely used piece of laboratory equipment is a laboratory scissors jack. This is a lifting stage that can lift heavier weights and provide longer strokes compared to a typical vertical stage; common laboratory lacks an adjust height from 5 cm to 20 cm. They contain platforms to hold experiment material, a scissors-like system to achieve up-down movement and a central screw to allow manual adjustment. A suitable laboratory jack requires reasonable load capacity, movement accuracy, and operational feasibility. Based on the above criteria, this project provides several new solutions for XYZ linear stages and laboratory scissor jacks by the 3-D printing method. These solutions include 2-in\({}^{2}\) and 3-in\({}^{2}\) XYZ linear stage systems and a 4-in\({}^{2}\) laboratory jack. All these stage systems benefit users, especially researchers in labs, by providing great alternatives for expensive commercial laboratory linear stages. The use of Computer Aided Design (CAD) design and 3-D printing methods for these stage systems not only significantly reduces the cost per system, but also enables users to revise the design themselves to obtain the special functions they need and then puts the design into production immediately.