Syringe pump project part verification

Projects General Guidance
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Hello there,

I am a biology student currently doing her internship. We are working with microfluidics, and I was tasked with creating a project with arduino because I had some programming and tinkering experience. However I have never actually planned a hardware and I am probably over worrying, but here's what I came up with.:

Syringe pump
Syringe pump940×652 9.79 KB

  • The Arduino Mega is given by the research group.
  • We have a half complete 3D model to be printed.
  • It is a very low velocity syringe pump, where we plan to add an endswitch to prevent it for overgoing
    Either this or this : https://fr.rs-online.com/web/p/commutateurs-de-detecteur/5059079
    https://fr.rs-online.com/web/p/commutateurs-de-detecteur/7931762
    I think they are a simple break switches, so I can just use 2 or 1 pin on the board to detect it, when it breaks, the motor resets itself.
  • The stepper motor itself. I am not sure how to choose one, but these all fit the model that we have (your standard NEMA17) https://docs.rs-online.com/ecfe/0900766b816b4d8f.pdf Should I choose the 4, 9.6 or 12V? no need for big torque nor speed. (I don't know how do you choose a stepper, nor whether I'd need to supply it with 12V or does the board steps it up)
  • For it I found that the A4988 is perfect for translating the Mega's instructions into steppings, do I just hook it up? https://fr.rs-online.com/web/p/modules-de-developpement-pour-la-robotique-la-gestion-d-alimentation-et-les-moteurs/1360748/
  • Also now the power source is an interesting question. I know that the Mega can supply 5 volts, but you shouldn't put a lot through it as it can overload. Now, we are not planning on using a lot of actual energy, so I thought that we MIGHT just power it from the arduino itself, if it makes it easier.
  • Power wise I was really thinking about the 5 volts that the USB provides. It would just make it easier, we could hook it up on a power bank or a PC, and it's ready to go. Or should I just get some NiMH batteries inbetween? My fear is that it would complicate the whole thing.
  • But then comes the really fun part. How do we control it? I was thinking of either an USB interface, or a reprapdiscount full graphic smart controller like thing. But as I googled that, it seemed to be not just plug and play with the proper programming. What interface would you suggest?

I am writing this post so that maybe someone can put clarity in my head. My main fear is that I order the wrong parts, as I have no idea what am I doing. I don't know how to plan a hardware, and just want to be certain with it. After, I am certain that I can solve the programming part, if everything is plugged together that it won't just burn down.

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There are lots of Arduino syringe pump projects on line, easily found using your favorite search engine and the phrase "arduino syringe pump". Look through a couple of them, refine your design and come back with more focused questions.

I know that the Mega can supply 5 volts,

For an LED or two, no more. Use an appropriate motor power supply capable of several Amperes.

But then comes the really fun part. How do we control it?

Very easily. Simply set the logic levels of STEP and DIR outputs (connected to your step motor driver) to take a step in the specified direction. Plenty of tutorials are posted on that, too.

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