Robotic Dispensing and Formulation of Photocurable Materials: Accuracy, Cross-Contamination, Mixing and Traceability

Robotic formulation is often treated as a neutral executor, yet liquid-handling studies show that dispensing speed, syringe or tip geometry, vial configuration and physical setup can create systematic bias. Photocurable formulations add viscosity, density, evaporation, pigment or particle loading, surface wetting, sedimentation and light sensitivity. This review defines a metrological architecture for robotic formulation preparation based on gravimetric verification, material-specific dispensing validation, carryover control, mixing qualification and chain-of-custody records. It distinguishes command volume from delivered mass, preparation repeatability from composition accuracy, and clean-looking automation from validated cross-contamination control. The proposed workflow is suitable for autonomous experimentation only after the executor itself has been qualified. ER-408.