3D printing is considered a transformational technology; however, its potential for configuring research laboratory equipment is nearly unprecedented. This project uses inexpensive and widely available electronic parts and a commercially available 3D printer to create a USB Powered Autostainer for Biological Specimens. This platform uses two USB powered stepper motors (one turns the stain tanks into position under the slide and one dips the slide holding biological material into the stain tank), two stepper motor Driver boards, one Arduino UNO microcontroller, one LCD Shield and custom designed ABS plastic 3D printed structural components. The microcontroller program polls buttons on the Shield to write a 5 step staining protocol. It is fully programmable from this LCD Shield user interface and does not need to be connected to a computer for program control. Each step is written into an element of an array for later program execution. The program first "Homes" the Dip and then the Tank stepper motor against limit switches. The program then executes each movement from the arrays which received the programming steps. Future developments include inexpensive autostainer platforms for any high school program with access to a 3D printer as well as additional modules for the platform for example an auto-immunostainer or a Thermofoil heated Real Time PCR platform. Since the platform uses only USB power is conceivable that it could be powered by a small solar panel (for field research). Automated Laberatory Equiptment Stain for Testing the System Diff-Quik is a commercial Romanowsky stain variant, commonly used in histological staining to rapidly stain and differentiate a variety of smears, commonly blood and non-gynecological smears, including those of fine needle aspirates. It is based on a modification of the Wright Giemsa stain pioneered by Bernard Witlin in 1970. It has advantages over the older Wright Giemsa staining technique, as it reduces the 4 minute process into a simplified 15 second operation, and allows for selective increased eosinophilic or basophilic staining depending upon the time the smear is left in the staining solutions. Diff-Quik is utilized on material which is air-dried prior to alcohol fixation . Solutions required: Method: Configuration: Limitations: 3D printed parts: FUture Platform Enhancements: This flexible platform is:Automated, reliable, programmable, scalable, modular, expandable, inexpensive, with low power consumption, a small footprint and is assembled with 3D printed parts. This High school science project was overseen by: Dr. R. Siderits at RWJUHH: Awards 1) Office of Naval Research Naval Science Award Certificate and a medal 2) AMS Materials Education Foundation for Most Outstanding Exhibit in Materials Science 3) First Place in the Senior division in the field of Engineering Materials and Bioengineering 4) Technology Grant in the form of a microcontroller system called a Beagle board. Poster from science fair attached to thing files as autostainer.pptx