What is the MiniCapper?

MiniCapper is a standalone laboratory device that caps and decaps vials for use in laboratory automation. It was designed and developed by Ewan Wills, a UK-based freelance product designer specialising in robotics, and progressed from initial concept through to a final unit tested in a laboratory environment.

Who designed the MiniCapper and what was the team?

Ewan Wills led the project as project lead within a small team of 2–3 engineers, covering mechanical design and electronics. The project budget was £35,000.

How was the MiniCapper built?

All custom components were manufactured from machined metal. The design prioritised manufacturability and ease of assembly — a design-for-manufacture (DFM) approach carried from concept through to the lab-tested unit.

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Case study · By Ewan Wills, freelance product designer · UK · Last updated 2026-07-03

Lab automation · 2024 · Doc EW-CS-01

MiniCapper.

MiniCapper is a standalone laboratory device that caps and decaps vials for laboratory automation. Designed by Ewan Wills — UK robotics product designer — it went from initial concept to a final, lab-tested unit with every custom component manufactured from machined metal.

Start a similar project ↗ Project facts

MiniCapper — standalone vial capping and decapping device for lab automation

Sht 02 — Project facts

What was the brief?

ProductStandalone benchtop device that caps and decaps vials, for integration into laboratory-automation workflows.

ScopeConcept → prototype → refined design → final unit, tested in a laboratory environment.

BuildAll custom components manufactured from machined metal; designed for manufacturability and ease of assembly.

Budget£35,000

TeamSmall team, 2–3 engineers

RoleEwan Wills — project lead; mechanical and electronics design

DisciplinesMechanical design · Electronics · Design for manufacture (DFM)

Year2024

Sht 03 — Approach

How was it developed?

Rev A

Discover

Understand the lab-automation workflow the device had to slot into: vial formats, cycle expectations, and the constraints of a laboratory bench.

Rev B

Prototype

First-principles builds to de-risk the capping/decapping mechanism before committing to machined parts.

Rev C–D

Refine & deliver

Design for manufacture and ease of assembly, then a final machined-metal unit — tested in a real laboratory environment.

Sht 04 — Frequently asked questions

Quick answers.

What is the MiniCapper?: MiniCapper is a standalone laboratory device that caps and decaps vials for use in laboratory automation. It was designed and developed by Ewan Wills, a UK-based freelance product designer specialising in robotics, and progressed from initial concept through to a final unit tested in a laboratory environment.
Who designed the MiniCapper and what was the team?: Ewan Wills led the project as project lead within a small team of 2–3 engineers, covering mechanical design and electronics. The project budget was £35,000.
How was the MiniCapper built?: All custom components were manufactured from machined metal. The design prioritised manufacturability and ease of assembly — a design-for-manufacture (DFM) approach carried from concept through to the lab-tested unit.

Sht 05 — Related

More robotics product design.

MiniCapper is one of several robotics and product-development projects by Ewan Wills, a UK product design studio taking hardware from concept to manufacture. Related case studies: automated bolt pick-and-place, DIY CNC milling machine for aluminium, and the in-ear vital sign monitor.