# Key Technical and Research Discussions from #hplusroadmap

• DIY bioprinting was a major focus, with participants discussing how to modify Epson CD-printing printers for biological applications due to their existing vertical displacement mechanisms, sharing resources like "Inkjet printing for high-throughput cell patterning" that explains adapting commercial inkjet technology for cell printing.

• Detailed technical discussions on PCR thermocycler designs compared heating approaches using nichrome wire wrapped around ceramic plates with chromel/alumel thermocouples versus traditional aluminum block designs, with participants debating thermal conductivity challenges and power requirements (commercial units using hundreds of watts versus some designs operating at approximately 30W).

• Microfluidics implementation strategies were explored, including PCB-based approaches and glass-based microfluidics using dry reactive ion etching, though the latter requires specialized equipment like inductively coupled plasma reactors.

• The group identified producing biological reagents (particularly Taq polymerase and restriction enzymes) as a priority for DIY bio, with discussion about distributing plasmids on dried paper through mail to overcome accessibility barriers.

• A philosophical debate emerged about the DIY biology movement, with some participants arguing that most DIY lab equipment papers lack quality and proper peer review, particularly in biology journals compared to engineering publications.

• Electric vehicle conversion projects were discussed, with recommendations to eliminate transmissions and use direct drive with two motors for better efficiency, along with considerations about battery capacity (noting Tesla Roadster battery systems alone cost approximately $40,000).

• Participants shared progress on software projects, including a Python-based replacement for uzbl core browser functionality and commits to the SKDB project documenting "the architecture of instruction generation in skdb."