{"id":80780,"date":"2025-02-17T17:21:56","date_gmt":"2025-02-17T16:21:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/xometry.pro\/?post_type=stories&#038;p=80780"},"modified":"2025-02-18T09:29:01","modified_gmt":"2025-02-18T08:29:01","slug":"open-source-flow-batteries","status":"publish","type":"stories","link":"https:\/\/xometry.pro\/en-eu\/stories\/open-source-flow-batteries\/","title":{"rendered":"Open-Source Flow Batteries: Rapid Prototyping for Renewable Energy Storage"},"content":{"rendered":"<div role=\"navigation\" aria-label=\"Table of Contents\" class=\"simpletoc wp-block-simpletoc-toc\"><h2 class=\"simpletoc-title\">Table of Contents<\/h2>\n<ul class=\"simpletoc-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#h-from-hackerspaces-to-high-precision-parts-engineering-an-open-source-flow-battery\">From Hackerspaces to High-Precision Parts: Engineering an Open-Source Flow Battery<\/a>\n\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#scaling-innovation-how-digital-manufacturing-enables-opensource-energy-storage\">Scaling Innovation: How Digital Manufacturing Enables Open-Source Energy Storage<\/a>\n<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n<p>At <a href=\"https:\/\/fbrc.dev\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">FBRC<\/a>, we are interested in <a href=\"https:\/\/fbrc.dev\/faq.html#what-is-a-flow-battery\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">flow batteries<\/a> because of their potential to be low-cost, safe, and sustainable ways to store renewable energy. We have proven it is possible to develop them with minimal resources in amateur laboratory settings, like home laboratories and hackerspaces. This low-overhead R&amp;D is possible because of their relatively simple construction and water-based electrolytes&#8212;compared to lithium-ion batteries, for example, which demand much more costly facilities for both development and production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><div class=\"wp-block-image__wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"767\" src=\"https:\/\/xometry.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/single-unit-cell-of-flow-battery-1024x767.png\" alt=\"A single unit cell of a flow battery\" class=\"wp-image-81832\" style=\"max-width:739px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/xometry.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/single-unit-cell-of-flow-battery-1024x767.png 1024w, https:\/\/xometry.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/single-unit-cell-of-flow-battery-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/xometry.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/single-unit-cell-of-flow-battery-768x576.png 768w, https:\/\/xometry.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/single-unit-cell-of-flow-battery-1536x1151.png 1536w, https:\/\/xometry.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/single-unit-cell-of-flow-battery.png 1540w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><a class=\"wp-block-image__fancy-box-button\" href=\"https:\/\/xometry.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/single-unit-cell-of-flow-battery.png\" data-fancybox=\"gallery-80780\" data-caption=\"A single unit cell of a flow battery (CC BY-SA Flow Battery Research Collective)\" aria-label=\"Open full image\"><img src=\"https:\/\/xometry.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/single-unit-cell-of-flow-battery.png\" class=\"wp-block-image__fancy-box-button-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"><svg class=\"wp-block-image__fancy-box-button-icon\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"18\" height=\"18\" viewBox=\"0 0 18 18\" fill=\"none\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\r\n               <path d=\"M0 2V6H2V2H6V0H2C0.895 0 0 0.895 0 2ZM2 12H0V16C0 17.105 0.895 18 2 18H6V16H2V12ZM16 16H12V18H16C17.105 18 18 17.105 18 16V12H16V16ZM16 0H12V2H16V6H18V2C18 0.895 17.105 0 16 0Z\" fill=\"#092C47\"\/>\r\n             <\/svg><\/a><\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A single unit cell of a flow battery (CC BY-SA <a href=\"https:\/\/fbrc.dev\">Flow Battery Research Collective<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>By helping make this technology accessible and taking an open-source development approach, we hope that innovation in flow batteries can accelerate. Ultimately, we expect to produce the designs and initial prototypes for a <a href=\"https:\/\/fbrc.dev\/faq.html#what-is-your-timeline\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">working flow battery<\/a>, released under an open-source license that allows for commercial use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To get there, however, we need to be able to precisely test intrinsic properties of these batteries at small scales. This is why we set out creating a development kit, to allow for reproducible research testing and instructional teaching use.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-from-hackerspaces-to-high-precision-parts-engineering-an-open-source-flow-battery\"><strong>From Hackerspaces to High-Precision Parts: Engineering an Open-Source Flow Battery<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Our team initially met through the internet&#8212;by stumbling upon each others\u2019 blogs&#8212;and we happened to all live in different countries in the EU. Our development process has been geographically distributed&#8212;I would design parts in France, Josh would fabricate them at <a href=\"https:\/\/lilis-protolab.sites.uu.nl\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Lili\u2019s Proto Lab<\/a> in the Netherlands, and then send them to Daniel in Spain for experimental testing. This worked well enough for initial prototyping with FDM printing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We wanted to develop an affordable flow battery development kit that was easy to manufacture and source components for. One key innovation was developing a cell that could use cheap and available graphite foil gasket material as a current collector, instead of more expensive and hard-to-get bipolar plate material. In addition, beyond just the flow cell and electrolyte, we wanted to develop and open-source the entire system: pumps, tubing, reservoirs, jigs, power electronics, etc. The devil is in the details, and we wanted to have a complete system to lower the barrier to entry as much as we could.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The initial version of our cell required machined polypropylene parts. We tried FDM printing, but the parts were not dimensionally accurate or rigid enough, and resin prints were not chemically compatible with our electrolytes.<\/p>\n\n\n    <section class=\"article-slider-block\">\r\n        <div class=\"article-content-wrapper\">\r\n            <!-- Swiper -->\r\n            <div class=\"swiper mySwiper2 article-slider-display\">\r\n                <div class=\"swiper-wrapper\">\r\n                                                <div class=\"swiper-slide\">\r\n                                <div class=\"wp-block-image__wrap\">\r\n                                    <img decoding=\"async\"  src=\"https:\/\/xometry.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/tests-printing-polypropylene-parts.png\" alt=\"Initial tests printing polypropylene parts, a notorious material for FDM printing\"\r\n                                    >\r\n                                    <a class=\"wp-block-image__fancy-box-button\" href=\"https:\/\/xometry.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/tests-printing-polypropylene-parts.png\" data-fancybox=\"gallery\" data-caption=\"Initial tests printing polypropylene parts, a notorious material for FDM printing.\" aria-label=\"Open full image\">\r\n                                        <img src=\"https:\/\/xometry.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/tests-printing-polypropylene-parts.png\" class=\"wp-block-image__fancy-box-button-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Initial tests printing polypropylene parts, a notorious material for FDM printing\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\">\r\n                                        <svg class=\"wp-block-image__fancy-box-button-icon\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"18\" height=\"18\" viewBox=\"0 0 18 18\" fill=\"none\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\r\n                                            <path d=\"M0 2V6H2V2H6V0H2C0.895 0 0 0.895 0 2ZM2 12H0V16C0 17.105 0.895 18 2 18H6V16H2V12ZM16 16H12V18H16C17.105 18 18 17.105 18 16V12H16V16ZM16 0H12V2H16V6H18V2C18 0.895 17.105 0 16 0Z\" fill=\"#092C47\"><\/path>\r\n                                        <\/svg>\r\n                                    <\/a>\r\n                                <\/div>\r\n                                <div class=\"article-slider-text\">\r\n                                    <p>Initial tests printing polypropylene parts, a notorious material for FDM printing.<\/p>\n                                <\/div>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n                            \r\n                                                        <div class=\"swiper-slide\">\r\n                                <div class=\"wp-block-image__wrap\">\r\n                                    <img decoding=\"async\"  src=\"https:\/\/xometry.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/prototype-of-the-cell.png\" alt=\"An early prototype of our cell, showing the serious warping of FDM-printed polypropylene parts\"\r\n                                    >\r\n                                    <a class=\"wp-block-image__fancy-box-button\" href=\"https:\/\/xometry.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/prototype-of-the-cell.png\" data-fancybox=\"gallery\" data-caption=\"An early prototype of our cell, showing the serious warping of FDM-printed polypropylene parts\" aria-label=\"Open full image\">\r\n                                        <img src=\"https:\/\/xometry.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/prototype-of-the-cell.png\" class=\"wp-block-image__fancy-box-button-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"An early prototype of our cell, showing the serious warping of FDM-printed polypropylene parts\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\">\r\n                                        <svg class=\"wp-block-image__fancy-box-button-icon\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"18\" height=\"18\" viewBox=\"0 0 18 18\" fill=\"none\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\r\n                                            <path d=\"M0 2V6H2V2H6V0H2C0.895 0 0 0.895 0 2ZM2 12H0V16C0 17.105 0.895 18 2 18H6V16H2V12ZM16 16H12V18H16C17.105 18 18 17.105 18 16V12H16V16ZM16 0H12V2H16V6H18V2C18 0.895 17.105 0 16 0Z\" fill=\"#092C47\"><\/path>\r\n                                        <\/svg>\r\n                                    <\/a>\r\n                                <\/div>\r\n                                <div class=\"article-slider-text\">\r\n                                    <p>An early prototype of our cell, showing the serious warping of FDM-printed polypropylene parts<\/p>\n                                <\/div>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n                            \r\n                                                        <div class=\"swiper-slide\">\r\n                                <div class=\"wp-block-image__wrap\">\r\n                                    <img decoding=\"async\"  src=\"https:\/\/xometry.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/resin-printed-cell-made-with-sla.png\" alt=\"A resin-printed cell made with SLA printing. It kind-of worked, but ultimately wasn\u2019t chemically compatible and slowly deformed over time.\"\r\n                                    >\r\n                                    <a class=\"wp-block-image__fancy-box-button\" href=\"https:\/\/xometry.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/resin-printed-cell-made-with-sla.png\" data-fancybox=\"gallery\" data-caption=\"A resin-printed cell made with SLA printing. It kind-of worked, but ultimately wasn\u2019t chemically compatible and slowly deformed over time\" aria-label=\"Open full image\">\r\n                                        <img src=\"https:\/\/xometry.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/resin-printed-cell-made-with-sla.png\" class=\"wp-block-image__fancy-box-button-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"A resin-printed cell made with SLA printing. It kind-of worked, but ultimately wasn\u2019t chemically compatible and slowly deformed over time.\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\">\r\n                                        <svg class=\"wp-block-image__fancy-box-button-icon\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"18\" height=\"18\" viewBox=\"0 0 18 18\" fill=\"none\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\r\n                                            <path d=\"M0 2V6H2V2H6V0H2C0.895 0 0 0.895 0 2ZM2 12H0V16C0 17.105 0.895 18 2 18H6V16H2V12ZM16 16H12V18H16C17.105 18 18 17.105 18 16V12H16V16ZM16 0H12V2H16V6H18V2C18 0.895 17.105 0 16 0Z\" fill=\"#092C47\"><\/path>\r\n                                        <\/svg>\r\n                                    <\/a>\r\n                                <\/div>\r\n                                <div class=\"article-slider-text\">\r\n                                    <p>A resin-printed cell made with SLA printing. It kind-of worked, but ultimately wasn\u2019t chemically compatible and slowly deformed over time<\/p>\n                                <\/div>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n                            \r\n                                            <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n            <div thumbsSlider=\"\" class=\"swiper mySwiper article-slider-list\">\r\n                <div class=\"swiper-wrapper\">\r\n                                            <div class=\"swiper-slide\">\r\n                            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/xometry.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/tests-printing-polypropylene-parts.png\" alt=\"Initial tests printing polypropylene parts, a notorious material for FDM printing\">\r\n                        <\/div>\r\n                                                <div class=\"swiper-slide\">\r\n                            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/xometry.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/prototype-of-the-cell.png\" alt=\"An early prototype of our cell, showing the serious warping of FDM-printed polypropylene parts\">\r\n                        <\/div>\r\n                                                <div class=\"swiper-slide\">\r\n                            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/xometry.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/resin-printed-cell-made-with-sla.png\" alt=\"A resin-printed cell made with SLA printing. It kind-of worked, but ultimately wasn\u2019t chemically compatible and slowly deformed over time.\">\r\n                        <\/div>\r\n                                        <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n    <\/section>\r\n    \n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"scaling-innovation-how-digital-manufacturing-enables-opensource-energy-storage\"><strong>Scaling Innovation: How Digital Manufacturing Enables Open-Source Energy Storage<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sanlifaez.github.io\/about\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Prof Sanli Faez<\/a> offered to host us for a workshop in the Netherlands through his FAIR Battery project, in which we would introduce the project and assemble cells (with water) with workshop participants. We wanted to aim for 10 complete kits, which meant we needed 20 machined cell bodies in a short amount of time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is where Xometry came in. We are researchers, and that is what we are best at&#8212;not fabrication! For certain applications, there is no substitute for milled parts, and we turned to Xometry to produce these components for our workshop. This is because we were unable to produce sufficiently rigid and fluid-tight parts in polypropylene with FDM printing, and SLA resin printing also could not give us the results we needed. The charged electrolytes we used for testing, which include triiodide species, are reactive with other FDM materials like ABS that might be otherwise stable in acid electrolytes. As a result, once we knew the geometry and approach of our cell was functional, we decided to mill these from solid polypropylene. The only change needed was to add tapped holes to place commercially available barbed fittings into, since that geometry was not suitable for milling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We received the parts in time for the workshop and had no issues with their assembly on-site. The workshop was successful and went off without a hitch.<\/p>\n\n\n    <section class=\"article-slider-block\">\r\n        <div class=\"article-content-wrapper\">\r\n            <!-- Swiper -->\r\n            <div class=\"swiper mySwiper2 article-slider-display\">\r\n                <div class=\"swiper-wrapper\">\r\n                                                <div class=\"swiper-slide\">\r\n                                <div class=\"wp-block-image__wrap\">\r\n                                    <img decoding=\"async\"  src=\"https:\/\/xometry.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/machined-polypropylene-parts.jpeg\" alt=\"Machined polypropylene parts for the workshop produced through Xometry\"\r\n                                    >\r\n                                    <a class=\"wp-block-image__fancy-box-button\" href=\"https:\/\/xometry.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/machined-polypropylene-parts.jpeg\" data-fancybox=\"gallery\" data-caption=\"Machined polypropylene parts for the workshop produced through Xometry\" aria-label=\"Open full image\">\r\n                                        <img src=\"https:\/\/xometry.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/machined-polypropylene-parts.jpeg\" class=\"wp-block-image__fancy-box-button-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Machined polypropylene parts for the workshop produced through Xometry\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\">\r\n                                        <svg class=\"wp-block-image__fancy-box-button-icon\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"18\" height=\"18\" viewBox=\"0 0 18 18\" fill=\"none\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\r\n                                            <path d=\"M0 2V6H2V2H6V0H2C0.895 0 0 0.895 0 2ZM2 12H0V16C0 17.105 0.895 18 2 18H6V16H2V12ZM16 16H12V18H16C17.105 18 18 17.105 18 16V12H16V16ZM16 0H12V2H16V6H18V2C18 0.895 17.105 0 16 0Z\" fill=\"#092C47\"><\/path>\r\n                                        <\/svg>\r\n                                    <\/a>\r\n                                <\/div>\r\n                                <div class=\"article-slider-text\">\r\n                                    <p>Machined polypropylene parts for the workshop produced through Xometry<\/p>\n                                <\/div>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n                            \r\n                                                        <div class=\"swiper-slide\">\r\n                                <div class=\"wp-block-image__wrap\">\r\n                                    <img decoding=\"async\"  src=\"https:\/\/xometry.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/hardware-components-of-a-cell-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Hardware components of a cell assembled at the workshop\"\r\n                                    >\r\n                                    <a class=\"wp-block-image__fancy-box-button\" href=\"https:\/\/xometry.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/hardware-components-of-a-cell-scaled.jpg\" data-fancybox=\"gallery\" data-caption=\"Hardware components of a cell assembled at the workshop\" aria-label=\"Open full image\">\r\n                                        <img src=\"https:\/\/xometry.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/hardware-components-of-a-cell-scaled.jpg\" class=\"wp-block-image__fancy-box-button-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Hardware components of a cell assembled at the workshop\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\">\r\n                                        <svg class=\"wp-block-image__fancy-box-button-icon\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"18\" height=\"18\" viewBox=\"0 0 18 18\" fill=\"none\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\r\n                                            <path d=\"M0 2V6H2V2H6V0H2C0.895 0 0 0.895 0 2ZM2 12H0V16C0 17.105 0.895 18 2 18H6V16H2V12ZM16 16H12V18H16C17.105 18 18 17.105 18 16V12H16V16ZM16 0H12V2H16V6H18V2C18 0.895 17.105 0 16 0Z\" fill=\"#092C47\"><\/path>\r\n                                        <\/svg>\r\n                                    <\/a>\r\n                                <\/div>\r\n                                <div class=\"article-slider-text\">\r\n                                    <p>Hardware components of a cell assembled at the workshop<\/p>\n                                <\/div>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n                            \r\n                                                        <div class=\"swiper-slide\">\r\n                                <div class=\"wp-block-image__wrap\">\r\n                                    <img decoding=\"async\"  src=\"https:\/\/xometry.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/workshop-participants-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Workshop participants assembling a cell\"\r\n                                    >\r\n                                    <a class=\"wp-block-image__fancy-box-button\" href=\"https:\/\/xometry.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/workshop-participants-scaled.jpg\" data-fancybox=\"gallery\" data-caption=\"Workshop participants assembling a cell\" aria-label=\"Open full image\">\r\n                                        <img src=\"https:\/\/xometry.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/workshop-participants-scaled.jpg\" class=\"wp-block-image__fancy-box-button-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Workshop participants assembling a cell\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\">\r\n                                        <svg class=\"wp-block-image__fancy-box-button-icon\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"18\" height=\"18\" viewBox=\"0 0 18 18\" fill=\"none\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\r\n                                            <path d=\"M0 2V6H2V2H6V0H2C0.895 0 0 0.895 0 2ZM2 12H0V16C0 17.105 0.895 18 2 18H6V16H2V12ZM16 16H12V18H16C17.105 18 18 17.105 18 16V12H16V16ZM16 0H12V2H16V6H18V2C18 0.895 17.105 0 16 0Z\" fill=\"#092C47\"><\/path>\r\n                                        <\/svg>\r\n                                    <\/a>\r\n                                <\/div>\r\n                                <div class=\"article-slider-text\">\r\n                                    <p>Workshop participants assembling a cell<\/p>\n                                <\/div>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n                            \r\n                                                        <div class=\"swiper-slide\">\r\n                                <div class=\"wp-block-image__wrap\">\r\n                                    <img decoding=\"async\"  src=\"https:\/\/xometry.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/tightening-the-cell-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Tightening the cell\"\r\n                                    >\r\n                                    <a class=\"wp-block-image__fancy-box-button\" href=\"https:\/\/xometry.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/tightening-the-cell-scaled.jpg\" data-fancybox=\"gallery\" data-caption=\"Tightening the cell\" aria-label=\"Open full image\">\r\n                                        <img src=\"https:\/\/xometry.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/tightening-the-cell-scaled.jpg\" class=\"wp-block-image__fancy-box-button-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Tightening the cell\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\">\r\n                                        <svg class=\"wp-block-image__fancy-box-button-icon\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"18\" height=\"18\" viewBox=\"0 0 18 18\" fill=\"none\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\r\n                                            <path d=\"M0 2V6H2V2H6V0H2C0.895 0 0 0.895 0 2ZM2 12H0V16C0 17.105 0.895 18 2 18H6V16H2V12ZM16 16H12V18H16C17.105 18 18 17.105 18 16V12H16V16ZM16 0H12V2H16V6H18V2C18 0.895 17.105 0 16 0Z\" fill=\"#092C47\"><\/path>\r\n                                        <\/svg>\r\n                                    <\/a>\r\n                                <\/div>\r\n                                <div class=\"article-slider-text\">\r\n                                    <p>Tightening the cell<\/p>\n                                <\/div>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n                            \r\n                                                        <div class=\"swiper-slide\">\r\n                                <div class=\"wp-block-image__wrap\">\r\n                                    <img decoding=\"async\"  src=\"https:\/\/xometry.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/test-for-leaks-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Manually pumping water through an assembled cell to test for leaks\"\r\n                                    >\r\n                                    <a class=\"wp-block-image__fancy-box-button\" href=\"https:\/\/xometry.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/test-for-leaks-scaled.jpg\" data-fancybox=\"gallery\" data-caption=\"Manually pumping water through an assembled cell to test for leaks\" aria-label=\"Open full image\">\r\n                                        <img src=\"https:\/\/xometry.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/test-for-leaks-scaled.jpg\" class=\"wp-block-image__fancy-box-button-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Manually pumping water through an assembled cell to test for leaks\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\">\r\n                                        <svg class=\"wp-block-image__fancy-box-button-icon\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"18\" height=\"18\" viewBox=\"0 0 18 18\" fill=\"none\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\r\n                                            <path d=\"M0 2V6H2V2H6V0H2C0.895 0 0 0.895 0 2ZM2 12H0V16C0 17.105 0.895 18 2 18H6V16H2V12ZM16 16H12V18H16C17.105 18 18 17.105 18 16V12H16V16ZM16 0H12V2H16V6H18V2C18 0.895 17.105 0 16 0Z\" fill=\"#092C47\"><\/path>\r\n                                        <\/svg>\r\n                                    <\/a>\r\n                                <\/div>\r\n                                <div class=\"article-slider-text\">\r\n                                    <p>Manually pumping water through an assembled cell to test for leaks<\/p>\n                                <\/div>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n                            \r\n                                                        <div class=\"swiper-slide\">\r\n                                <div class=\"wp-block-image__wrap\">\r\n                                    <img decoding=\"async\"  src=\"https:\/\/xometry.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/assembled-cell-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"An assembled cell in a jig complete with additional system components\"\r\n                                    >\r\n                                    <a class=\"wp-block-image__fancy-box-button\" href=\"https:\/\/xometry.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/assembled-cell-scaled.jpg\" data-fancybox=\"gallery\" data-caption=\"An assembled cell in a jig complete with additional system components\" aria-label=\"Open full image\"0>\r\n                                        <img src=\"https:\/\/xometry.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/assembled-cell-scaled.jpg\" class=\"wp-block-image__fancy-box-button-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"An assembled cell in a jig complete with additional system components\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\">\r\n                                        <svg class=\"wp-block-image__fancy-box-button-icon\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"18\" height=\"18\" viewBox=\"0 0 18 18\" fill=\"none\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\r\n                                            <path d=\"M0 2V6H2V2H6V0H2C0.895 0 0 0.895 0 2ZM2 12H0V16C0 17.105 0.895 18 2 18H6V16H2V12ZM16 16H12V18H16C17.105 18 18 17.105 18 16V12H16V16ZM16 0H12V2H16V6H18V2C18 0.895 17.105 0 16 0Z\" fill=\"#092C47\"><\/path>\r\n                                        <\/svg>\r\n                                    <\/a>\r\n                                <\/div>\r\n                                <div class=\"article-slider-text\">\r\n                                    <p>An assembled cell in a jig complete with additional system components<\/p>\n                                <\/div>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n                            \r\n                                            <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n            <div thumbsSlider=\"\" class=\"swiper mySwiper article-slider-list\">\r\n                <div class=\"swiper-wrapper\">\r\n                                            <div class=\"swiper-slide\">\r\n                            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/xometry.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/machined-polypropylene-parts.jpeg\" alt=\"Machined polypropylene parts for the workshop produced through Xometry\">\r\n                        <\/div>\r\n                                                <div class=\"swiper-slide\">\r\n                            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/xometry.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/hardware-components-of-a-cell-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Hardware components of a cell assembled at the workshop\">\r\n                        <\/div>\r\n                                                <div class=\"swiper-slide\">\r\n                            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/xometry.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/workshop-participants-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Workshop participants assembling a cell\">\r\n                        <\/div>\r\n                                                <div class=\"swiper-slide\">\r\n                            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/xometry.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/tightening-the-cell-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Tightening the cell\">\r\n                        <\/div>\r\n                                                <div class=\"swiper-slide\">\r\n                            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/xometry.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/test-for-leaks-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Manually pumping water through an assembled cell to test for leaks\">\r\n                        <\/div>\r\n                                                <div class=\"swiper-slide\">\r\n                            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/xometry.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/assembled-cell-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"An assembled cell in a jig complete with additional system components\">\r\n                        <\/div>\r\n                                        <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n    <\/section>\r\n    \n\n\n<p>Since the workshop, we have made progress towards an<a href=\"https:\/\/fbrc.dev\/posts\/progress-update-dev-kit\/\"> improved version of the kit<\/a>, which simplifies the manufacturing process somewhat. We no longer need machined plastic parts, but there are some metal components that are still best fabricated using subtractive machining.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As open-source hardware developers, we have been jealous of the ease with which software developers can clone a repository and make contributions. Engineers that develop printed circuit boards also now have standardized open-source tools like KiCAD and a wide array of manufacturers that offer quick turnaround times, lowering the barrier to development and shortening iteration cycles for PCB-based projects.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With digital fabrication services and open-source mechanical CAD tools like FreeCAD, it will be easier than ever for custom parts to be developed and tested by a global community. When 3D printing simply won\u2019t do, projects like ours can slow down or stop because of the bottleneck of physical access to a machine shop with conventional tools and knowledgeable machinists. Without this limitation, projects like ours can innovate, iterate, and allow others to reproduce and contribute to our work much more easily than before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can follow along as our project progresses <a href=\"https:\/\/fbrc.dev\/subscribe.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here<\/a>, and hop in our forum if you have any questions or would like to get involved!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-background\" style=\"background-color:#f5f7f8;color:#f5f7f8\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How have digital manufacturing tools helped accelerate your development?<\/strong> <strong>What lessons have you learned from open-source hardware projects?<\/strong> We\u2019d love to hear about your experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<meta name=\"fediverse:creator\" content=\"@<span \n                data-original-string='4cWaC9yPjqf+u7JzSorVeQ==022WQlKAeQrBvn7bWurp4KTIEGBhqrJqF\/rnd7ohaBSx0w='\n                class='apbct-email-encoder'\n                title='This contact has been encoded by Anti-Spam by CleanTalk. Click to decode. 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