DremelFuge - A One-Piece Centrifuge for Rotary Tools by cathalgarvey

Description

DremelFuge is a printable rotor for centrifuging standard microcentrifuge tubes and miniprep columns. Compared to the cost of a new centrifuge (priced by a fellow Thingiversian at $500 minimum on Froogle), a Dremelfuge is incredibly cheap.

* Used with a drill at 3000 RPM, the Dremelfuge will deliver over 400g, enough to comfortably spin down Miniprep samples (proven personally). It will likely achieve acceptable results at lower speeds, too.
* Used at 10krpm, on a Rotary tool for instance, a Dremelfuge should deliver over 4400g, more than enough to spin down bacterial cells.
* At 16krpm, Dremelfuge matches commercial centrifuges.
* On a Dremel 300, a maximum speed of 33krpm equates to a force of over 50,000 times earth's gravity, and will shatter microcentrifuge tubes (although Dremelfuge will be unharmed by the experience).

To see some picures of Dremelfuge used to spin down cells, see here:
letters.cunningprojects.com/?p=85

Quick Video Intro to Dremelfuge: youtube.com/watch?v=86WnXeTZO_Y
(Update: This video hit over 1900 views! Thanks Makezine/Bre!)

Dremelfuge is available for sale as a high-quality, robust print on Shapeways.com in two editions, each suited for up to six samples at a time: Dremelfuge Recessed Edition, to fit the cutting-tool-holder commonly found with rotary tools (5mm diameter bore), and Dremelfuge Chuck Edition, which can be quickly adapted for use in any machine with a chuck grip. They are both available here on my Shapeways shop:
shapeways.com/shops/labsfromfabs

The price including delivery to America is about $55, apparently. In Ireland, it is $65.

For liability reasons, Dremelfuge is not endorsed for actual use by its creator, and any applications other than ornamental use are done entirely at the risk of the end user! Dremelfuge, as with any high-speed rotary tool, may cause personal harm or damage to property or persons in case of failure, and no guarantee, warranty, promise or suggestion of safety is made or offered by me (Cathal Garvey) with regard to DremelFuge.

Dremelfuge featured on Makezine:
blog.makezine.com/archive/2009/12/laboratory_centrifuge_attachment_fo.html

Please let me know if Dremelfuge is of use to you!

== License Stuff ==
DremelFuge makes use of the Shapes.scad script kindly released by Catarina Mota, which is released under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation. Many thanks to Catarina for this great workhorse script.

DremelFuge itself is released under an Attribution, Noncommercial, Sharealike License. As a noncommercial clause is included, upload of this file to a paid-for service such as Shapeways, even for personal printing or use, is discouraged. The files are linked above, and your support through fair purchase is really, really appreciated.

Instructions

Don't ever use this, ever, because if it happens to disintegrate at high speed you might decide to blame me. Serious injury could result. For further information on high speed disintegration, see here: powerlabs.org/cdexplode.htm

In the event that you disregard your own personal safety and take the risk of using Dremelfuge as a centrifuge attachment for a drill or rotary tool:
1) Print or buy Dremelfuge. If printed, use maximum infill for stability.
2) Attach Dremelfuge securely, either by tightening a chuck securely or screwing a rotary tool disc-holder securely to the center of the Dremelfuge.
3) Seat your drill or rotary tool so that Dremelfuge's shaft/axle is vertically oriented. Seat the drill/tool with the Dremelfuge into a metal chamber (such as a cooking pot) for safety, and wear eyegear and any other personal protective items you can muster in case of disintegration.
4) Starting at the lowest speed and ramping up, with no tubes or loads attached, test Dremelfuge for safety at whichever speeds you intend to use it.
5) Once proven safe at the intended speed, you can start to test and use Dremelfuge under load, that is with desired lab samples. Make certain at all times that identical tubes or columns are used, with identical amounts of fluid or mass on either side. Always balance the Dremelfuge perfectly, or accidents may result.

Dremelfuge, if used as a tool, should be respected as much as any centrifuge in terms of safety and care taken during use. You've been fairly warned! Here are some RCF values (g-forces) to expect when it is used with a standard microcentrifuge tube:
@3000 rpm - 453 rcf
@10000 rpm - 5,031 rcf
@16,680 rpm - 14,000 rcf (The highest on a standard lab centrifuge I use every day!)
@33,000 rpm - 51,520 rcf (Highest on a Dremel 300, and far and away more than is safe)

At anything over 15k rcf, tubes may break from the stress. Flying bits of microcentrifuge tubes pose a blinding or injurous hazard. Dremelfuge is unlikely to break at any speed if purchased from Shapeways. Don't take that at a guarantee, but my tests with a printed dremelfuge have shown it to be exceptionally robust.

If you enjoy Dremelfuge or feel it has aided you significantly, please consider a donation to the email address mentioned in the .scad file below, using Paypal. Your support is very much appreciated! Those purchasing through Shapeways need not do so.