Daisy Peri P Quickstart
Set up the Daisy Peri P peristaltic pump, from tubing assembly to a calculated calibration value. Covers cartridge installation, power, the Daisy Controller Software, priming, calibration, and cleaning.

Setup, Priming, and Calibration
The Scalables Daisy Peri P is a precision peristaltic pump built around a cartridge-based tubing system for fast, repeatable setup. This guide walks through everything shown in the Quickstart video, with additional detail.
Cartridge and Tubing Installation
The Peri P contains 2 cartridges. To remove a cartridge, press the lock arm on one side to release it, then rotate the cartridge on the other side to lift its hook off the bar. The Peri P works with silicone tubing or PharMed BPT with end-stoppers with a minimum OD of 2 mm and a maximum OD of 5 mm. Select tubing material based on chemical compatibility.
The cartridge installs between two of the tubing’s three stopper positions. Having three stoppers means two usable tubing segments: when the first segment becomes too stretched from use, switching to the second roughly doubles the tubing's usable life before it needs replacing.
To install the cartridge with tubing, hook one side around the bar and press in on the other side until it clicks into place. Then engage the pressure lever, and use the pressure knob on the lever to fine-tune tension to match the tubing's outer diameter. As tubing stretches over time, adjust the pressure knob to maintain consistent flow.
Power and Computer Connection
Connect the power supply to the Daisy. Then connect the data cable: the micro USB end into the Daisy and the USB-C end into a computer.
Using the Daisy Controller Software
Open the Daisy Controller Software and click the Instrument Refresh button to detect the connected Daisy. The instrument list shows which group and index the Peri P occupies. The right panel shows the parameters available to control, like flow rate (ml/min) and total volume (ml) to dispense. The Peri P has a max speed of 150 rpm, which results in a max flow rate of 2.5 times the calibration value. Pump direction can also be switched between clockwise and counterclockwise. This allows you to use the pump to dispense or aspirate. When selecting the tubing ID/OD the predicted calibration value autofills. This is only a predicted calibration value based on the tubing size. For accuracy, the calibration value (the flow rate in ml/min at 60 rpm) must be calculated based on application set up and re-calculated as tubing wears.
It must be calculated for accuracy, and again as the tubing wears.
Example: tubing with a 1.14 mm ID and 2.86 mm OD autofills a predicted calibration of 3.9 ml per minute at 60 rpm. The max flow rate when using this tubing is 9.75 ml/min.
Priming the Tubing
Before running any application, prime the tubing to fill the line with liquid and purge any trapped air.
Example settings: the flow rate is set to 6 ml per minute and the volume to dispense is 2 ml.
Select a flow rate and volume, if the tubing is primed before the end of the run, click Stop to interrupt the pump, if it is not primed, repeat the run or adjust the volume dispensed. Continue running until liquid flows steadily from the outlet.
Calculating a Calibration Value
For best accuracy, run the script a second time with your measured value to confirm, and repeat if needed.
As mentioned above, calculating a calibration value is vital for accuracy. In the Daisy Controller Software, click Open and select the assay file PeriP_calibration_60rpm. This script assists in calculating the calibration value at 60 rpm. Fill in the predicted calibration value in calibrate(); the example below uses calibrate(3.9). Tare a collection vessel on a scale. This script sets the predicted calibration value and runs the pump at the predicted calibration value. A large placeholder is called for the volume to dispense. Since wait=False, there is no wait in running the run() and counting down from 60 seconds until the pump is stopped by stop(). Weigh the collected liquid.
"""Daisy Peri P — Calculate Calibration
Calculate the flow rate at 60 RPM for your setup and tubing.
"""
# Set the group and instrument index
peri_p = self.my_interface.groups[0].inst[0]
# Set predicted calibration value by tubing size
peri_p.calibrate(3.9)
print("Weigh and tare the collection vessel on a scale.")
print("Place the collection vessel under the tubing outlet.")
print("Starting in 5 seconds...")
time.sleep(5)
print("\nRunning...")
peri_p.run(peri_p.calibration_speed, 999.0, wait=False)
for remaining in range(60, 0, -1):
if remaining % 15 == 0:
print(f" {remaining}s remaining...")
time.sleep(1)
peri_p.stop()
print("Weigh the collected liquid (grams) — if its density is 1 g/mL (like water),")
print("that weight in grams is equal to the volume in mL.")
print("Since this ran for 60 seconds, that volume is your flow rate directly:")
print(" flow rate (mL/min) at 60 RPM = grams collected")
print("(For denser or lighter liquids, divide grams by density in g/mL to get true mL, first.)")If the liquid's density is the same as water (1 g/ml), the weight in grams converts directly to volume in ml.
Example: collecting 4.04 g over 60 seconds gives a calibration value of 4.04 ml per minute at 60 rpm.
For solutions with a different density, divide the grams by density in g/ml to get the calibration value.
Enter your measured value in calibrate() and run the script again to confirm the pump delivers what you expect. If the result is off, repeat until the delivered volume matches. Recalibrate any time you change tubing.
Cleaning After Use
After using the Peri P, clean the tubing with DI water. Following the water rinse, remove the inlet tubing from any liquid and run the pump briefly to purge the line with air, helping it dry before storage or the next use.
Interactive Python notebooks
Detailed Peri P walkthroughs in Python on GitHub. Choose the set that matches how you run Daisy.


