About
OSRA is a response to increasingly high costs to buy into and maintain common laboratory devices that raise the barrier to entry for researchers and institutions. The goal of OSRA is enable labs to focus on research, not on costs.
Designs, correspondence, and this site are produced and maintained by Cameron Rough, a North Carolina-based engineer, in collaboration with project-by-project contributors and dedicated researchers of the Wake Forest University School of Medicine.
OSRA Tenets
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Open-sourcing designs means making all of the parts of a design freely available wherever possible. It is the driving reason behind the existence of OSRA and is the first rule in enabling scientists.
The open-source movement means designs and documentation can't be patented or made proprietary. They become the property of the people, and remain free, forever.
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Working with labs to meet their needs for new systems or alternate designs is an exciting part of novel science, it also means more designs become available for other labs to utilize.
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Common needs between labs leads to a better understanding of other resources that may lead to improved collaboration and superior science.
Similar devices used across labs also leads to greater quantity and quality of feedback, driving design improvements that benefit everybody.
FAQ
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Yes! If you have design experience, an existing design you want to add to the open-source database, or a project you want help to develop, please get in touch using the contact form below.
In an ideal world, this site can become a home base for open-source designs from global contributors, so feel free to suggest designs or changes!
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This depends on the device and your existing system, but it is likely that a product can be modified to work with your particular system.
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Absolutely, get in touch below to request changes or additional parts like brackets, clamps, fasteners, etc.
If you're purchasing a pre-assembled device, you can also email below or leave a note with the order.
Lead times and/or cost may change depending on the magnitude of the change.
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Shipping times depend on the quantity and type of device. Orders are usually placed in quantities of 5 or more to lower overall costs, but more parts may need to be ordered to meet your needs. If pre-assembled devices are not ready to ship, you may also consider shipping parts directly to your lab and assembling them with the included instructions.
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No, but if you really want to support the mission of OSRA, you can contribute to the pancake fund here.