The 2016 ACS Build Your Own Cytometer workshop has been designed to develop practical knowledge in the core components of flow cytometry instrumentation in a fun, practical and interactive way. The workshop will focus on explaining the often overlooked practical aspects of 3D printing, fluidics, optics and electronics using simplified practical demonstrations. How these components come together to form modern day cytometers will be discussed and an example project BYOC will be introduced. By simplifying modern complex instruments into core components, workshop attendee should walk away with a greater appreciation of the complexity and magic that doesn’t happens in a modern day cytometer.