22 x 22 mm Glass Cover Slip Holder by Stark060

Tools Parts

22 x 22 mm Glass Cover Slip Holder

Stark060

Likes

164

Downloads

3847

Views

Published on August 30, 2012

This thing was Featured on September 14, 2012

Description

While doing research as an undergraduate, several of my labmates had to constantly clean 22 x 22 mm glass cover slips in a special solution for microscopy experiments. They could only wash these cover slips ~5 at a time with some repurposed equipment. Realizing how frustrating this must be, I designed a modular cover slip holder that can be used to hold 20 cover slips at once, or many more when stacked in a beaker.

Dimensions are 55 mm in diameter, 30.7 mm tall.

Instructions

Just load the holder with glass cover slips, place in beaker, and fill beaker with cleaning solution.

This design is meant to be manufactured via 3D printing. Cover slips to be cleaned in aqueous solutions can use this model if printed in ABS or PLA plastic. Cover slips to be cleaned in organic solvents should print this model using Selective Laser Sintering with nylon (PA2200).

This model is provided for free, but if you'd like to purchase this and support a first-year grad student, please visit:

stark060.storenvy.com/products/550492-22-x-22-mm-glass-cover-slip-holder

or

etsy.com/listing/108152563/22-x-22-mm-glass-cover-slip-holder
Thanks!

Tags

This Thing has no tags.

Report as inappropriate

destroyer2012 on September 14, 2012 said:

Very cool. Definately not for use with piranha solution :P

Come to think of it, how well can ABS or PLA stand up to repeated ultrasonic baths in ethanol and isopropanol? I'm tempted to try this but I am concerned that the plastic will partially dissolve and mar the coverslips. Most of the racks I've ever seen were stainless steel or ceramic.

Our ceramic
racks can hold 12 at a time, and I can usually fit two racks in a 500 mL beaker, 200 mL of solution just about covers the top of the coverslips.

Does anyone with a clay-printing setup want to try making this in ceramic?

Stark060 on September 14, 2012 said:

No, certainly not something you would use w/ piranha solution!

Never tried ceramic, but my initial impression is that ceramic clay printing might not be able to achieve resolution for this holder.

If you want, maybe you could take the design to RedEye...never used them before, but they can FDM with a variety of materials: http://www.redeyeondemand.com/...
loads/ComparisonsChart.pdf

PropellerScience on August 31, 2012 said:

I bought a pack of them a while back and they were anything but clean. I might have to try this. Thanks!

Stark060 on August 31, 2012 said:

Huh, I didn't know anyone else sold these. Let me know how well they work out!

Gil on August 30, 2012 said:

This looks great but what is it used for?

Stark060 on August 30, 2012 said:

If you look at the third picture, you can see several glass microscopy cover slips in the holder. This device holds the cover slips when you submerge them in a solution for washing them.