The invention is related to a method and an apparatus for the automated fabrication of a molecular layer made from amphiphilic molecules, in particular lipids for a lipid bilayer membrane, in the apparatus, which has a support substrate for supporting the molecular layer, a rotation element, which can be rotated on top of the support substrate, and an actuator device, by means of which the rotation element can be automatically rotated, wherein the rotation element has an outer surface, which is formed hydrophobic at least in sections, the method having the following steps: placing a first solvent, which contains amphiphilic molecules, in a region above the support substrate; causing the automatic rotation of the rotation element above the support substrate; moving the first solvent between the support substrate and the rotation element by the interaction of the rotating rotation element with the first solvent, thus forming the molecular layer.