Cold Box for 2mL Cryotubes

Comparable to a $200 commercial cold box, this design cost me less than $3 of materials to make. Designed to hold 5x glycerol stocks in cryotubes to allow work without thawing, allowing the stocks to be reused until empty. Tube dimensions are 11mm in diameter and sit 30mm into the box, with room for the caps to sit under the lid for additional insulation.

Printing:
-Print the cryobox top at 100 percent infill.
-Print the cryobox bottom at 15 percent infill.
-Print the cryobox lid at 100 percent infill.
-Before proceeding, dry fit both parts to confirm they nest cleanly and that all tubes fit properly into their slots.

Fill Port Creation:
-Using the smallest drill bit available, drill a very small hole through the top surface of the box.
-This hole will serve as the fill port for the thermal buffer solution.

Initial Sealing:
-Apply a thin, continuous layer of silicone sealant to all internal surfaces that will contact liquid.
-Allow the silicone to cure in open air for 24 hours.

Fin