{
 "version": "2026-10-20",
 "license": "Dimension sheets are written by Xem Studio from the cited sources and are free to use (CC BY 4.0, attribute 'Xem Studio'). Linked files belong to their publishers under the license shown; Xem Studio does not host them. 'license_verified: false' means the license shown is from memory or the publisher's page as last read and should be confirmed at the link before commercial use.",
 "slug": "plastic-syringes",
 "name": "Plastic syringes 1–60 mL as pistons and cylinders",
 "kind": "standard",
 "category": "Hardware",
 "group": "Found & household materials",
 "year": null,
 "question": "What is the inside diameter of a 10 mL syringe?",
 "tags": [
  "syringe",
  "piston",
  "cylinder",
  "luer",
  "stirling",
  "long earth society",
  "found materials"
 ],
 "aliases": [
  "10ml syringe diameter",
  "syringe barrel inside diameter",
  "60ml syringe dimensions",
  "syringe piston stirling engine",
  "glass syringe stirling",
  "20ml syringe od"
 ],
 "overall_mm": {
  "length": null,
  "width": null,
  "height": null
 },
 "official_cad": false,
 "xem_status": "free-files",
 "les": true,
 "free_files": 7,
 "url": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/plastic-syringes/",
 "sheet_txt": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/plastic-syringes/sheet.txt",
 "sheet": {
  "basis": "Typical BD / Terumo Luer-slip barrel dimensions; ID is what sets the stroke volume (±0.3 mm between brands: measure yours)",
  "overall_mm": {
   "length": null,
   "width": null,
   "height": null
  },
  "notes": [
   "Barrel ID (and OD): 1 mL 4.7 (6.5), 3 mL 8.6 (10.0), 5 mL 12.0 (13.6), 10 mL 14.5 (15.9), 20 mL 19.1 (21.0), 30 mL 21.7 (23.6), 60 mL 26.7 (29.0) mm. Stroke volume per mm: ID²×π/4, so a 10 mL moves 0.165 mL per mm.",
   "As a Stirling power piston: pull the rubber plunger tip, use the bare plunger as a near-frictionless piston (0.1 mm clearance) or keep the tip for a sealed, higher-friction piston. Glass syringes are the premium version: 10 mL glass is Ø15.0 ID, nearly zero friction.",
   "Polypropylene softens at 100 °C: the syringe is always the cold-side power cylinder, 50 mm or more from the flame. The Luer tip is a convenient 4.2 mm pressure port."
  ],
  "table": {
   "columns": [
    "syringe",
    "barrel_id_mm",
    "barrel_od_mm",
    "length_mm",
    "ml_per_mm_stroke"
   ],
   "rows": [
    [
     "1ml",
     4.7,
     6.5,
     57,
     0.017
    ],
    [
     "3ml",
     8.6,
     10,
     70,
     0.058
    ],
    [
     "5ml",
     12,
     13.6,
     76,
     0.113
    ],
    [
     "10ml",
     14.5,
     15.9,
     90,
     0.165
    ],
    [
     "20ml",
     19.1,
     21,
     103,
     0.287
    ],
    [
     "30ml",
     21.7,
     23.6,
     105,
     0.37
    ],
    [
     "60ml",
     26.7,
     29,
     125,
     0.56
    ]
   ]
  }
 },
 "sheet_text": "Plastic syringes 1–60 mL as pistons and cylinders — dimension sheet\nSource: Xem Studio, https://xemstudio.com/objects/plastic-syringes/  (CC BY 4.0)\nBasis: Typical BD / Terumo Luer-slip barrel dimensions; ID is what sets the stroke volume (±0.3 mm between brands: measure yours)\nCatalog version: 2026-10-20\n\nSizes: see table below\n- Barrel ID (and OD): 1 mL 4.7 (6.5), 3 mL 8.6 (10.0), 5 mL 12.0 (13.6), 10 mL 14.5 (15.9), 20 mL 19.1 (21.0), 30 mL 21.7 (23.6), 60 mL 26.7 (29.0) mm. Stroke volume per mm: ID²×π/4, so a 10 mL moves 0.165 mL per mm.\n- As a Stirling power piston: pull the rubber plunger tip, use the bare plunger as a near-frictionless piston (0.1 mm clearance) or keep the tip for a sealed, higher-friction piston. Glass syringes are the premium version: 10 mL glass is Ø15.0 ID, nearly zero friction.\n- Polypropylene softens at 100 °C: the syringe is always the cold-side power cylinder, 50 mm or more from the flame. The Luer tip is a convenient 4.2 mm pressure port.\n\nsyringe  barrel_id_mm  barrel_od_mm  length_mm  ml_per_mm_stroke\n1ml  4.7  6.5  57  0.017\n3ml  8.6  10.0  70  0.058\n5ml  12.0  13.6  76  0.113\n10ml  14.5  15.9  90  0.165\n20ml  19.1  21.0  103  0.287\n30ml  21.7  23.6  105  0.37\n60ml  26.7  29.0  125  0.56\n\nFiles elsewhere (not hosted by Xem Studio; license as stated by the publisher):\n- Wikipedia: Syringe — web — CC BY-SA 4.0 (text) — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syringe\n- BD: BD syringe specifications — web — BD site [verify license at link] — https://www.bd.com/en-us/products-and-solutions/products/product-families/bd-luer-lok-syringes\n- Long Earth Society: Engine builds (videos and write-ups) — web, video — LES site — https://longearthsociety.com/engineering/\n\nFree files (CC BY 4.0, Xem Studio; STEP + STL, 7 parts): https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/plastic-syringes/index.json\nAPI: https://xemstudio.com/api/geometry?object=plastic-syringes\n",
 "sources": [
  {
   "publisher": "Wikipedia",
   "title": "Syringe",
   "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syringe",
   "formats": [
    "web"
   ],
   "license": "CC BY-SA 4.0 (text)",
   "license_verified": true,
   "hosted": false
  },
  {
   "publisher": "BD",
   "title": "BD syringe specifications",
   "url": "https://www.bd.com/en-us/products-and-solutions/products/product-families/bd-luer-lok-syringes",
   "formats": [
    "web"
   ],
   "license": "BD site",
   "license_verified": false,
   "hosted": false
  },
  {
   "publisher": "Long Earth Society",
   "title": "Engine builds (videos and write-ups)",
   "url": "https://longearthsociety.com/engineering/",
   "formats": [
    "web",
    "video"
   ],
   "license": "LES site",
   "license_verified": true,
   "hosted": false
  }
 ],
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  "tolerance_mm": null
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 "related": [
  "can-engine-printed-kit",
  "balloons-and-diaphragms",
  "borosilicate-test-tubes",
  "o-rings-metric",
  "beverage-cans"
 ],
 "faq": [
  {
   "q": "What is the inside diameter of a 10 mL syringe?",
   "a": "About 14.5 mm (OD 15.9); a 20 mL is 19.1 mm, a 60 mL 26.7 mm. Brands vary by ±0.3 mm."
  },
  {
   "q": "How do I use a syringe as a Stirling engine piston?",
   "a": "Cut the barrel to length, keep it on the cold side, and run the plunger without its rubber tip for low friction (or with it for a seal). The 10 mL size matches a 12 oz can displacer well."
  },
  {
   "q": "How much volume does a syringe move per mm?",
   "a": "ID² × π / 4: 10 mL (14.5 mm) → 0.165 mL/mm; 20 mL (19.1 mm) → 0.287 mL/mm; 60 mL (26.7 mm) → 0.56 mL/mm."
  }
 ],
 "files_license": null,
 "offers": [
  {
   "file": "syringe-1ml",
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    "stl"
   ],
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   "step": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/plastic-syringes/syringe-1ml.step",
   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/plastic-syringes/syringe-1ml.stl",
   "note": "1ml Luer-slip syringe: barrel ID 4.7, OD 6.5, 57 mm long; plunger shown mid-stroke"
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  {
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   "note": "3ml Luer-slip syringe: barrel ID 8.6, OD 10.0, 70 mm long; plunger shown mid-stroke"
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  {
   "file": "syringe-5ml",
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   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/plastic-syringes/syringe-5ml.stl",
   "note": "5ml Luer-slip syringe: barrel ID 12.0, OD 13.6, 76 mm long; plunger shown mid-stroke"
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  {
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   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/plastic-syringes/syringe-10ml.stl",
   "note": "10ml Luer-slip syringe: barrel ID 14.5, OD 15.9, 90 mm long; plunger shown mid-stroke"
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  {
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   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/plastic-syringes/syringe-20ml.stl",
   "note": "20ml Luer-slip syringe: barrel ID 19.1, OD 21.0, 103 mm long; plunger shown mid-stroke"
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  {
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   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/plastic-syringes/syringe-30ml.stl",
   "note": "30ml Luer-slip syringe: barrel ID 21.7, OD 23.6, 105 mm long; plunger shown mid-stroke"
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  {
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   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/plastic-syringes/syringe-60ml.stl",
   "note": "60ml Luer-slip syringe: barrel ID 26.7, OD 29.0, 125 mm long; plunger shown mid-stroke"
  }
 ],
 "markdown": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/plastic-syringes/index.md"
}