Generate a design from requirements
Open Auto design. Choose pressure-driven flow distribution or capillary filling. Set the target, footprint, fluid and channel limits, then generate and check. Review achieved performance, physical layout, model applicability and fabrication issues. A feasible result can be saved as a complete editable project or downloaded with its requirements, solver results and manufacturing handoff. Change an input to invalidate the preview and run the compiler again. In the editor, Workflow retains the original requirements and shows when geometry, fluid, process rules or concept targets have changed. Reopen those requirements to generate a new project without overwriting your work.
Start with a concept brief
Open Workflow, then Concept. Save your application, sample, fluid, target flow, constraints and acceptance criteria. These requirements stay with the project and its revisions as you develop the network.
1. Choose a starting point
Create an empty design or use a straight channel, serpentine, Y junction, or branching template. The built-in assistant turns a short prompt into a deterministic template proposal. If an AI provider is configured, its mode requires an explicit opt-in before your prompt is sent.
2. Separate sketch and physical geometry
Canvas X and Y are diagram pixels. Physical X and Y are in millimeters in the inspector and are stored as meters. Dragging a diagram port does not move its physical coordinate. For a legacy sketch, choose Assign physical scale to convert pixels explicitly, then review every channel length.
3. Parameterize your channels and ports
Select a channel and provide length (mm), width (µm), and height (µm). Set inlet and outlet gauge pressure (kPa). Junction pressures are computed. Set positive fluid viscosity and density in the workbench. Legacy width/length metadata has unspecified units and never becomes a physical dimension automatically.
4. Simulate and animate 1D flow
Start with a straight channel: inlet, channel, and outlet. Set dimensions and pressures, then Run analysis. Explore pressure and average velocity, flow-directed particles, and axial profiles. Pause, adjust playback speed, or expand the visualization. Playback illustrates transport through a steady solution; it does not simulate transient filling or a CFD velocity field. Save the design before saving the analysis run.
5. Convert and fill a network
In Build a network, choose Y split for a complete inlet, joint and two outlets, or connect your own ports. Open Filling, then Build network model to inspect the numbered branches and generated inputs. Run capillary filling to compute the liquid fronts with Python. Compare channel position, liquid velocity and flow graphs while playing or scrubbing the animation. Download the model JSON, solver input ZIP and numerical results.
6. Explore a flow target
The parameter comparison plots calculated outlet flow as one channel dimension changes across a bounded linear or logarithmic range; download its CSV to compare trials. The dimension tuner searches within your chosen positive lower and upper bounds for one channel dimension. Review the proposed value, achieved flow, target error, and applicability before applying. An achievable hydraulic target does not guarantee fabrication feasibility or assay performance.
7. Save, compare, and export
Save records a version and detects concurrent edits. Compare a revision with the current editor before restoring it. Review geometry and fluid changes before applying an assistant proposal. Preview connected SVG to see channels, bends, and junctions as a filled physical silhouette. SVG includes scale and source metadata; DXF exports centerlines. CSV and HTML reports include fresh results and assumptions.
8. Review fabrication and prepare files
In Workflow ? Fabricate, choose a material/process profile, review the chip boundary, port diameters, polarity and dimensional rules, then Check fabrication. Resolve blocking issues before downloading the package. It contains closed SVG/DXF masks, drill locations, a BOM, process checklist and manifest. Eligible single-height PDMS designs can include a relief mold STL. All profiles require supplier review.
9. Measure and compare
In Workflow ? Validate, add a laboratory run with leak observations, measured flow and pressure, or channel dimensions. Save to capture the current design and calculated references. Compare measured and predicted values and revise the design when needed. Record actual fabrication and validation work; readiness indicators do not certify a device.
Understand the model boundary
EZChip uses a reduced hydraulic network model, with a conservative Reynolds limit of 100 and a minimum channel length of ten hydraulic diameters. It estimates flow, pressure, velocity, Reynolds number, and residence time. It does not simulate concentration fields, diffusion, mixing efficiency, reactions, bubbles, multiphase flow, deformable walls, or detailed junction losses. Chamber, expansion, and pump icons are schematic symbols and require a suitable model before analysis.
An SVG is a physical mask draft; a DXF is centerline geometry in millimeters. Check clearances, ports, bonding, materials, tolerances, and process rules with your fabrication workflow before manufacturing.
Watch a capillary filling front
Choose Start filling demo in the workspace, then open Filling in the workbench. The demo uses a 10 mm × 100 µm × 50 µm channel, water-like fluid, equal inlet and outlet pressure, and an 80° static contact angle. Run filling simulation, then play or scrub through the computed front positions. Change surface tension, contact angle, gas viscosity, or pressures to study the response.
This separate mode runs the recovered MATLAB-to-Python capillary conversion in a bounded worker. It supports a single series path or one binary split with two outlets, using up to eight straight channel segments and equal outlet pressures. Series channels may have different rectangular cross sections; a split requires a constant cross section within each branch. Steps stop at section changes and junctions, and the volume audit compares inlet flow minus outlet flow with liquid stored in the channels. Larger binary trees can be converted into model inputs for further development; loops, merging streams, pumps and evacuation are outside the filling preview. The original MATLAB source is preserved for reference. The versioned filling algorithm includes corrections to its time stepping; full original-model parity and experimental validation are not established. All server computation uses Python and requires no MATLAB installation or license. Filling results can be downloaded for review.