The initial idea was to create a 3D test-bed that would allow anyone with a printer to manufacture custom lab equipment suited for experiments that require a tool or sensor to move from point A to B. My project required that I mount a hall-effect sensor and scan the magnetic field of a rare earth magnet. For another project, I mounted a piezoelectric sensor on the head and used it for topographic scanning.
Other uses for the platform:
USB microscope examiner.
Automated pipetting.

The goal of this project is to get people to make application-specific iterations and posting them!
The device isn't meant to be lab grade, but is definitely suited for high-school science projects.
All of my projects were done with an arduino and spare servos I had lying around.
My blog post that elaborates more on the magnetic field scanning:
http://www.nuclearfarnsworth.com/boldly-going-where-no-man-has-gone-before/
A video of the device working: http://youtu.be/zf2CvUZoLX8

Print out all of the parts, use bolts and nuts to secure everything together. The slots for the servos are rather loose and require hot glue. I did this so people wouldn't be limited to specific servos. If you want, the solidworks files should allow you to resize the slots and add bolt-holes.