{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"TechArticle","id":"TR-PMP-001","slug":"peristaltic-pump","canonical_url":"https://flavorotor.com/research/peristaltic-pump","machine_readable_url":"https://flavorotor.com/research/data/chapters/peristaltic-pump.json","markdown_url":"https://flavorotor.com/research/markdown/peristaltic-pump","title":"Peristaltic pump development","description":"The custom three-roller pump, its first-order displacement model and the strict distinction between motor command resolution and delivered-volume accuracy.","chapter":"Nutrient dosing","version":"1.1","updated":"2026-07-26","table_of_contents":[{"id":"plain","label":"Explanation"},{"id":"design","label":"Documented design"},{"id":"model","label":"First-order model"},{"id":"command","label":"Motor-command increment"},{"id":"why-calibrate","label":"Why calibration is mandatory"},{"id":"progress","label":"Progress classification"},{"id":"provenance","label":"FlavoRotor design provenance"},{"id":"cad-views","label":"CAD documentation"}],"html":"<section aria-label=\"Article summary\" class=\"fr-article-summary\"><div><span>In brief</span><p>The custom three-roller pump, its first-order displacement model and the strict distinction between motor command resolution and delivered-volume accuracy.</p></div></section><figure class=\"fr-research-figure fr-research-figure-wide\"><img alt=\"CAD view of the FlavoRotor custom three-roller peristaltic pump\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"/research/pump/01_peristaltic_pump_cad_view_A.webp\"/><figcaption><strong>Custom pump architecture.</strong><span>Original CAD from the supplied pump package. Geometry supports the first-order model; delivery performance requires gravimetric calibration. <button aria-label=\"Open source record I03\" class=\"research-source-trigger\" data-research-source=\"I03\" type=\"button\">[I03]</button></span></figcaption></figure>\n<h2 id=\"plain\">Explanation</h2>\n<p>A three-roller rotor compresses a flexible tube. Advancing the compression moves liquid while the liquid remains inside the replaceable tube. The motor provides a precise command, but only calibration determines the volume that actually exits the tube.</p>\n<h2 id=\"design\">Documented design</h2>\n<div class=\"table-wrap\"><table><thead><tr><th>Parameter</th><th>v2 design value</th><th>Classification</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Pump type</td><td>three-roller peristaltic</td><td>design architecture</td></tr><tr><td>Tube</td><td>3.2 mm ID / 6.4 mm OD silicone</td><td>design specification</td></tr><tr><td>Nominal channel radius</td><td>18 mm</td><td>CAD specification</td></tr><tr><td>Drive</td><td>NEMA 17, 1.8° full step, direct drive</td><td>component specification</td></tr><tr><td>Command mode</td><td>1/16 microstepping</td><td>firmware design</td></tr><tr><td>Housing</td><td>PETG prototype geometry</td><td>CAD specification</td></tr><tr><td>System channels</td><td>four independent pump modules</td><td>system design</td></tr></tbody></table></div>\n<h2 id=\"model\">First-order model</h2>\n<div class=\"equation\"><div class=\"equation-label\">P-1</div><div class=\"equation-text\">A<sub>t</sub> = πd<sub>i</sub>² / 4</div><div class=\"equation-desc\">Nominal undeformed internal tube area.</div></div>\n<div class=\"equation\"><div class=\"equation-label\">P-2</div><div class=\"equation-text\">V<sub>rev,ideal</sub> = A<sub>t</sub> · L<sub>eff</sub> · N<sub>e</sub></div><div class=\"equation-desc\">Ideal displacement per rotor revolution using an effective displaced length Leff and displacement-event count Ne.</div></div>\n<p>With d<sub>i</sub> = 3.2 mm, L<sub>eff</sub> = 25 mm and N<sub>e</sub> = 3, the report model gives A<sub>t</sub> ≈ 8.04 mm² and V<sub>rev,ideal</sub> ≈ 0.603 mL/rev.</p>\n<div class=\"equation\"><div class=\"equation-label\">P-3</div><div class=\"equation-text\">V<sub>rev,meas</sub> = η<sub>v</sub> · V<sub>rev,ideal</sub></div><div class=\"equation-desc\">Measured displacement represented by a fitted volumetric-efficiency term. ηv may depend on speed, pressure, tube and age.</div></div>\n<div class=\"equation\"><div class=\"equation-label\">P-4</div><div class=\"equation-text\">Q = V<sub>rev,meas</sub> · n</div><div class=\"equation-desc\">Mean flow at rotor speed n in rev/min.</div></div>\n<h2 id=\"command\">Motor-command increment</h2>\n<div class=\"equation\"><div class=\"equation-label\">P-5</div><div class=\"equation-text\">N<sub>µstep/rev</sub> = (360° / 1.8°) · 16 = 3200</div><div class=\"equation-desc\">Microstep commands per direct-drive rotor revolution.</div></div>\n<div class=\"equation\"><div class=\"equation-label\">P-6</div><div class=\"equation-text\">ΔV<sub>cmd,nom</sub> = 0.603 mL / 3200 ≈ 0.188 µL/command</div><div class=\"equation-desc\">Nominal geometric displacement assigned to one command.</div></div>\n<aside class=\"fr-engineering-note\"><strong>Engineering note</strong><p>0.188 µL per microstep is not accuracy, repeatability, minimum dose or experimentally resolved liquid volume.</p></aside>\n<h2 id=\"why-calibrate\">Why calibration is mandatory</h2>\n<p>Tube recovery, occlusion, viscosity, suction head, outlet pressure, roller geometry, motor torque, microstep non-linearity and tube wear all alter delivered volume. Peristaltic-pump modelling and published multi-channel systems therefore use physical calibration rather than geometry alone. <button aria-label=\"Open source record R18\" class=\"research-source-trigger\" data-research-source=\"R18\" type=\"button\">[R18]</button> <button aria-label=\"Open source record R19\" class=\"research-source-trigger\" data-research-source=\"R19\" type=\"button\">[R19]</button></p>\n<h2 id=\"progress\">Progress classification</h2>\n<p>The pump geometry and four-channel module are substantial v2 engineering progress. The supplied report documents CAD, component selection and the analytical model. No traceable FlavoRotor gravimetric dataset accompanies the report, so delivered-volume performance remains unclaimed until CR-PMP-001 is published.</p>\n<h2 id=\"provenance\">FlavoRotor design provenance</h2><p>The system-specific configuration on this page is traced to the supplied FlavoRotor engineering records. <button aria-label=\"Open source record I02\" class=\"research-source-trigger\" data-research-source=\"I02\" type=\"button\">[I02]</button> <button aria-label=\"Open source record I03\" class=\"research-source-trigger\" data-research-source=\"I03\" type=\"button\">[I03]</button></p><h2 id=\"cad-views\">CAD documentation</h2><div class=\"fr-research-figure-grid\"><figure class=\"fr-research-figure\"><img alt=\"Second CAD view showing the roller and tubing path\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"/research/pump/02_peristaltic_pump_cad_view_B.webp\"/><figcaption><strong>Roller and tube path.</strong><span>Internal CAD record. <button aria-label=\"Open source record I03\" class=\"research-source-trigger\" data-research-source=\"I03\" type=\"button\">[I03]</button></span></figcaption></figure><figure class=\"fr-research-figure\"><img alt=\"Exploded assembly of the FlavoRotor peristaltic pump\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"/research/pump/03_peristaltic_pump_exploded_assembly.webp\"/><figcaption><strong>Exploded pump assembly.</strong><span>Internal CAD record showing serviceable components. <button aria-label=\"Open source record I03\" class=\"research-source-trigger\" data-research-source=\"I03\" type=\"button\">[I03]</button></span></figcaption></figure></div>","text":"In brief The custom three-roller pump, its first-order displacement model and the strict distinction between motor command resolution and delivered-volume accuracy. Custom pump architecture. Original CAD from the supplied pump package. Geometry supports the first-order model; delivery performance requires gravimetric calibration. [I03] Explanation A three-roller rotor compresses a flexible tube. Advancing the compression moves liquid while the liquid remains inside the replaceable tube. The motor provides a precise command, but only calibration determines the volume that actually exits the tube. Documented design Parameter v2 design value Classification Pump type three-roller peristaltic design architecture Tube 3.2 mm ID / 6.4 mm OD silicone design specification Nominal channel radius 18 mm CAD specification Drive NEMA 17, 1.8° full step, direct drive component specification Command mode 1/16 microstepping firmware design Housing PETG prototype geometry CAD specification System channels four independent pump modules system design First-order model P-1 A t = πd i ² / 4 Nominal undeformed internal tube area. P-2 V rev,ideal = A t · L eff · N e Ideal displacement per rotor revolution using an effective displaced length Leff and displacement-event count Ne. With d i = 3.2 mm, L eff = 25 mm and N e = 3, the report model gives A t ≈ 8.04 mm² and V rev,ideal ≈ 0.603 mL/rev. P-3 V rev,meas = η v · V rev,ideal Measured displacement represented by a fitted volumetric-efficiency term. ηv may depend on speed, pressure, tube and age. P-4 Q = V rev,meas · n Mean flow at rotor speed n in rev/min. Motor-command increment P-5 N µstep/rev = (360° / 1.8°) · 16 = 3200 Microstep commands per direct-drive rotor revolution. P-6 ΔV cmd,nom = 0.603 mL / 3200 ≈ 0.188 µL/command Nominal geometric displacement assigned to one command. Engineering note 0.188 µL per microstep is not accuracy, repeatability, minimum dose or experimentally resolved liquid volume. Why calibration is mandatory Tube recovery, occlusion, viscosity, suction head, outlet pressure, roller geometry, motor torque, microstep non-linearity and tube wear all alter delivered volume. Peristaltic-pump modelling and published multi-channel systems therefore use physical calibration rather than geometry alone. [R18] [R19] Progress classification The pump geometry and four-channel module are substantial v2 engineering progress. The supplied report documents CAD, component selection and the analytical model. No traceable FlavoRotor gravimetric dataset accompanies the report, so delivered-volume performance remains unclaimed until CR-PMP-001 is published. FlavoRotor design provenance The system-specific configuration on this page is traced to the supplied FlavoRotor engineering records. [I02] [I03] CAD documentation Roller and tube path. Internal CAD record. [I03] Exploded pump assembly. Internal CAD record showing serviceable components. [I03]","source_ids":["I02","I03","R18","R19"],"visuals":[],"sources":[{"id":"I02","authors":"FlavoRotor project team","year":2026,"title":"FlavoRotor v2.0 system architecture","publication":"Internal engineering design report","doi":null,"url":"/research/platform","source_type":"internal primary record","relevance":"Documents the proposed magnetic drive, axial lighting, four-channel peristaltic dosing and imaging architecture.","verification":"Derived from the original FlavoRotor v2.0 engineering document","verified_on":"2026-07-26","verification_status":"INTERNAL PRIMARY RECORD","verified_against":"Original internal project file and extracted media"},{"id":"I03","authors":"FlavoRotor project team","year":2026,"title":"FlavoRotor peristaltic pump technical record","publication":"Internal engineering record","doi":null,"url":"/research/peristaltic-pump","source_type":"internal primary record","relevance":"Documents CAD geometry, components, first-order equations, four-channel integration and the proposed calibration protocol.","verification":"Derived from the original FlavoRotor pump engineering package","verified_on":"2026-07-26","verification_status":"INTERNAL PRIMARY RECORD","verified_against":"Original internal project file and extracted media"},{"id":"R18","authors":"Formato, Gaetano; Romano, Raffaele; Formato, Andrea; Sorvari, Joonas; Koiranen, Tuomas; Pellegrino, Arcangelo; Villecco, Francesco","year":2019,"title":"Fluid–Structure Interaction Modeling Applied to Peristaltic Pump Flow Simulations","publication":"Machines","doi":"10.3390/machines7030050","source_type":"peer-reviewed engineering research","relevance":"Supports modelling tubing deformation and the limits of a rigid geometric displacement estimate.","verification":"Publisher metadata and full text checked 2026-07-26","url":"https://doi.org/10.3390/machines7030050","verified_on":"2026-07-26","verification_status":"DOI METADATA CHECKED","verified_against":"Publisher, DOI landing page, PubMed or official repository where available"},{"id":"R19","authors":"Buchhorn, Michael; Akkoc, Gun Deniz; Dworschak, Dominik","year":2025,"title":"An open-source peristaltic pump with multiple independent channels for laboratory automation","publication":"Digital Discovery","doi":"10.1039/D5DD00157A","source_type":"peer-reviewed engineering research","relevance":"Provides a relevant multi-channel open-source pump architecture and a measured calibration methodology.","verification":"Publisher metadata and full text checked 2026-07-26","url":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5DD00157A","verified_on":"2026-07-26","verification_status":"DOI METADATA CHECKED","verified_against":"Publisher, DOI landing page, PubMed or official repository where available"}]}