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The Lego pumps are controlled by an Arduino controller expanded with Adafruit Motor Shields.

• Arduino are Open-Source hardware microcontrollers designed to be low-cost and user friendly to assemble.
• Shields are extensions that can be installed on Arduino's to add functionality. The Adafruit Motor Shield is designed to provide easy control of up to 4 DC motors, like those of the lego pump.

Several shields can be stacked together to keep expanding the capabilities of the Arduino. So, to control 8 pumps, 2 shields can be stacked on top of an Arduino.

The Arduino itself does not require any modification, but the Adafruit motor shield will require some minor soldering.

Required equipment

1. Soldering iron
2. Solder
3. Scissors, clippers or any cutting device
4. Fine-tip Phillips head screwdriver

Required material

1. An Arduino Uno.
2. An Adafruit Motor Shield (with pre-soldered terminal blocks) for every 4 Lego pump.*
3. An USB-B to USB-A cable.
4. A 9V, 1A power supply with a 2.1mm centre positive barrel jack
5. Male to female jumper wires. The longer the better.
6. Optional: If installing more than one shield (i.e., controlling more than 4 pumps), a set of Shield Stacking Headers is required for each additional shield.

*Please note: If the motor shields do not come the terminal blocks pre-soldered, you will have to follow the instructions in the Adafruit page titled "Installing Terminal Blocks and more".

Extra shopping

Since this list includes items that can be bought from Amazon, this is as good a place as any to remind you to also buy:

1. A bag of rubber bands to hold the syringes in place.
2. An Adafruit peristaltic pump.

Installation

Please follow the instructions on our hardware page, then follow the instructions on the firmware page.