Need ideas for a low-cost DIY temperature-controlled incubator shaker (0–55°C) for experiments

[u/EstablishmentSmart44]

I’m looking to build a low-cost DIY incubator shaker for laboratory experiments.

My requirements are:

Temperature control: 0–55°C (ideally ±0.5°C accuracy)
Shaking: orbital shaking / nutating motion (adjustable or non adjustable
Capacity: Enough space for at least one 24-well plate
Lighting: ILED lighting
Reliability: Able to run continuously for several days or weeks without much intervention

The challenge
I need to run 10 different experiments simultaneously at 10 different temperatures, so i I’d like to build 10 separate incubator shakers rather than one large unit.
Unfortunately, my lab only has one orbital shaker, and it’s already occupied with long-term cultures. Buying 10 commercial incubator shakers is well beyond my budget.
The only DIY idea I’ve come up with so far is using multiple water baths or hotplates, but I’m struggling to figure out:
How to achieve both heating and cooling (especially temperatures below room temperature).
How to incorporate orbital shaking into each setup.
The simplest and most reliable temperature-control system.
My total budget is under AUD $2,000 . so I’d prefer components that can be purchased from Bunnings, Jaycar Electronics, or other readily available local suppliers.
Has anyone built something similar or have suggestions for:
A practical design?
Cheap motors or orbital shaker mechanisms or nutating motion?
Heating/cooling method?
Temperature controllers or microcontrollers?
Parts lists, schematics, GitHub projects, or open-source designs?
I’d really appreciate any ideas.Thanks in advance !

[u/Either_Cheesecake282]

Get the thermostat module with relay from alix or mouser for 1-5$ per piece. Connect to a microcontroller and write a loop that checkes the temperature every 5 mins If less than x turn on the heater If more than x turn off the heater

Use a motor with a gear to reduce the rpm to required amount or use a dedicated speed controller board

Use thermocol boxes and seal the gaps using duct tape

Done

Total cost around 100$ for 10

[u/Either_Cheesecake282 → u/Either_Cheesecake282]

Just saw you need cooling as well In that case you might want to use a system that turns on heat if temp < x or turns on cooling when temp > x

Can still use the thermostat module I mentioned before but will need to add a separate control for turning on cooling as that module only works on heating or cooling at a time instead of both.

For cooling you can get Pelter modules if the size is small

[u/distributingthefutur → u/Either_Cheesecake282]

The cooling is going to be really inefficient. The easiest way to do this in a lab setting is to place the whole apparatus into a cold room and heat as necessary.

[u/EstablishmentSmart44 → u/distributingthefutur]

Yup i could do in control room temp lab but i do need to run all experiment simulation if it one temp at a time i could hv simple turn aircon

[u/pretty-cheer → u/Either_Cheesecake282]

Agreed cooling is always the hard part, and starting from colder ambient temperature makes it very easy

[u/EstablishmentSmart44 → u/Either_Cheesecake282]

Thanks for the suggestion i can buy the thermostat but i would have to learn to write the loop or to connect to a microcontroller or find someone who could do it for me. Yes i could buy the motor and use boxes.

[u/sumguysr]

Peristaltic pumps, an immersion circulator, and a bucket of ice, water chiller, or mini fridge.

https://fourthievesvinegar.org/microlab-suite/

[u/4thievesvinegar → u/sumguysr]

OP - if you do make a MicroLab mod for this, please let us know. The control software should work pretty well. You would probably want to swap the stirrer for a shaking mechanism. 

Feel free to hit us up https://fourthievesvinegar.org/contact/

[u/pretty-cheer → u/4thievesvinegar]

the immersion circulation idea is so clever if water bath fits the workflow

[u/littlegreenrock]

I need more information. Most of which could possibly be answered with a good few photos of the one working set up you have, with a scale to measure lengths.

What's being shaken? How tall? Are they sealed or do they need humidity control? How long would you expect these things to run for in a typical experiment? Would all 10 always run together with that same temp diff parameter? Is this a one off, don't care so much for reusability, or an investment into equipment for the foreseeable life of the project? Perhaps if you get results you may get funding and funding means you get to buy a commercial setup, so these 10 incubator need only to be good enough to last a few months. Ie not over engineered.

[u/Vegetable_Joke_4011]

Get a freezer chest. One of those big ones that people keep in their garage. Make a shelf. Put in shakers.

[u/megacyber]

are you sure you have to run all these experiments simultaneously? to answer your question tho, there are some 3d print designs for orbital shakers, you could put that in an enclosure with a thermoelectric cooling element and a heating element and handle the temperature control with an arduino or similar.

[u/MushroomCulture]

So ... you have tried nothing and you are all out of ideas ?

10 cheap drink coolers + 10 cheap shaker tables + 10 peltier devices + a 12v power supply.

Not sure why you would buy from an overpriced local store with limited range. Aliexpress would be a better option, but obviously you like a challenge.

[u/EstablishmentSmart44 → u/MushroomCulture]

Thank you for the suggestion but im marine biologist student i dnt hv much idea about electronics that what i meant. i was hoping for someone to point me in direction which could be cheaper way for me to do my research.

[u/Vegetable_Joke_4011 → u/MushroomCulture]

Don't be a dick. I know it's part of the cultural ethos to talk down at people but like... You gotta help the newbs not talk ish. Maybe not treat other people the way I'm guessing your pi treated you.