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LabCrafter @labcrafter.co.uk · 09/09/2026

Making some vial caps for the electroPioreactor, an open-source bioreactor that generates its own hydrogen.

A table covered in 3D-printed caps, wiring, washers and thumb screws.

LabCrafter @labcrafter.co.uk · 10/07/2026

We recently stopped by @billerbecks.bsky.social's lab at Imperial to see them using our electroPioreactor - open-source hardware that grows alt-protein bacteria using electrolysis - in action. v0.2 is underway (github.com/amy-bo/elect...), a big step toward our website launch. #SynBio

Gerrit and Margriet standing in front the Imperial College London sign

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LabCrafter @labcrafter.co.uk · 03/06/2026

Spotlight on customer creativity! 🔬 A customer bought our @openflexure.bsky.social kit, printed his own parts & sent this great photo. Love the colour choice! We print in Black, Blue, & Green using recycled Filamentive PLA. We want to add a new colour - what should it be? Let us know! #3DPrinting

An OpenFlexure microscope in white, black, yellow and red colours.

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LabCrafter @labcrafter.co.uk · 13/04/2026

What did you do during the Easter break? Gerrit has been working on building a @mothbox.bsky.social ! 🛠️🌍 We’ve been looking for a project that resonates with our passion for #CitizenScience, and we think the Mothbox is it. If all goes well, we'll be adding these to our store lineup.

An over-the-shoulder shot of Gerrit holding a Mothbox PCB, with the e-paper display, attractors and camera installed.

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LabCrafter @labcrafter.co.uk · 06/02/2026

Back from FOSDEM, where Gerrit joined the @openflexure.bsky.social team at their stand! It was a brilliant opportunity to connect with the open-source hardware community. The perfect homecoming awaited us: the latest Raspberry Pi magazine featuring Pioreactor and Gerrit's work on the AMYBO project!

A photo of an open Raspberry Pi magazine, showing an article entitled "Pioreactor: an automated Raspberry Pi bioreactor".

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LabCrafter @labcrafter.co.uk · 08/09/2025

What better way to start the week than with LabCrafter's one-year anniversary! 🥳 We want to extend a huge thank you to our customers. It's been a joy sharing our love for open-source scientific equipment with all of you. For now, it's time for a well-deserved cake break! 🎂🥂

A smiling couple (Gerrit & Margriet), wearing party hats and LabCrafter t-shirts. They're standing in front of a world map. Text at the bottom says "1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY" in red and white.

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LabCrafter @labcrafter.co.uk · 25/07/2025

Crimping a connector for a fluorescence add-on we're collaborating on for the OpenFlexure microscope.

A bunch of 3D printed components, wires and screws are lying on a cutting mat. There's an orange Engineer PA-09 crimping tool in the foreground, as well as some screwdrivers and an allen key.

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LabCrafter @labcrafter.co.uk · 25/06/2025

Being self-employed means we can do more of what we love. Recently we volunteered at our local children's nursery and brought the OpenFlexure Microscope. We had a great time hunting for garden creatures and viewing pre-prepared slides. The hairy fly legs were definitely the biggest hit!🪰

Gerrit and Margriet showing the OpenFlexure Microscope to a group of nursery children.

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LabCrafter @labcrafter.co.uk · 30/04/2025

A school in the Netherlands used our 5V boost converters (labcrafter.co.uk/products/5v-...) for their sensor boxes, and gave a presentation on their inspiring project at The Things Network Conference: www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3B2...

Photo of a sensor box that has been opened, with LabCrafter's 5V boost converter visible on the bottom right of the board.

Photo of a sensor box that has been opened. An antenna is attached to the lid, and all the electronics inside the box are visible. There's a small e-ink display showing readings from the various sensors.

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LabCrafter @labcrafter.co.uk · 11/04/2025

We're working with the AMYBO.org community to extend the Pioreactor for sustainable protein experiments. 🦠 A couple of weeks ago, we ran a hands-on session at the Cambridge Festival Schools Days! 🧪🌱 KS3 students used the Pioreactor and @openflexure.bsky.social microscope to explore cyanobacteria.

Sandrine, an AMYBO volunteer, explaining how the Pioreactor works to a group of students sitting around a white table. There is a Pioreactor, an OpenFlexure microscope, a laptop and a screen on the table.

Gerrit giving a presentation on biotechnology and sustainable protein to a group of students sitting on black chairs. There are two large screens showing the presentation.

Rob, an AMYBO volutneer, handling a vial from the Pioreactor, surounded by a group of students sitting at a white table. There is a Pioreactor, laptop, kitchen roll and a box with purple disposable gloves on the table.

Two smiling students, one looking directly at the camera, with a Pioreactor and OpenFlexure microscope in front of them. There is an extension cord with a power supply next to it.

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LabCrafter @labcrafter.co.uk · 05/02/2025

Busy preparing a new product for launch!

A bunch of small PCBs being depanelled and cleaned up

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LabCrafter @labcrafter.co.uk · 24/01/2025

Our OpenFlexure Microscope kits proved very popular, and now you can be notified when we're back in stock. We wrote our own code for this to eliminate use of third party Shopify Apps that share customer details.

Screenshot of LabCrafter website showing OpenFlexure microscope is out of stock

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LabCrafter @labcrafter.co.uk · 17/01/2025

Since Prusa decided to move away from open-source, it made it much easier to decide which 3D printer to buy next. Voron Design is similar to the OpenFlexure Project, in that a core team creates the design, and a network of vendors sell kits to build it. Looking forward to building this Voron 2.4!

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LabCrafter @labcrafter.co.uk · 08/01/2025

Sending out our first newsletter! Subscribe on our website if you'd like to read the next one: labcrafter.co.uk

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LabCrafter @labcrafter.co.uk · 18/12/2024

New stock from @Pioreactor@mstdn.science just arrived and is available in our store right now: labcrafter.co.uk/collections/piorea…

Shipping box containing a variety of Pioreactor parts

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LabCrafter @labcrafter.co.uk · 30/11/2024

40x objective lens in a high-resolution upgrade kit coming soon! Although the existing kit without objective works great too 🔬

Photo of the wing of a fly taken with low-cost version of OpenFlexure microscope

Wing of a fly at 40x magnification (photo taken with high-resolution version of OpenFlexure microscope)

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