scholarly journals Advancing 3D-Printed Microfluidics: Characterization of a Gas-Permeable, High-Resolution PDMS Resin for Stereolithography

Micromachines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 1266
Author(s):  
Elyse Fleck ◽  
Alec Sunshine ◽  
Emma DeNatale ◽  
Charlise Keck ◽  
Alexandra McCann ◽  
...  

The rapid expansion of microfluidic applications in the last decade has been curtailed by slow, laborious microfabrication techniques. Recently, microfluidics has been explored with additive manufacturing (AM), as it has gained legitimacy for producing end-use products and 3D printers have improved resolution capabilities. While AM satisfies many shortcomings with current microfabrication techniques, there still lacks a suitable replacement for the most used material in microfluidic devices, poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS). Formulation of a gas-permeable, high-resolution PDMS resin was developed using a methacrylate–PDMS copolymer and the novel combination of a photoabsorber, Sudan I, and photosensitizer, 2-Isopropylthioxanthone. Resin characterization and 3D printing were performed using a commercially available DLP–SLA system. A previously developed math model, mechanical testing, optical transmission, and gas-permeability testing were performed to validate the optimized resin formula. The resulting resin has Young’s modulus of 11.5 MPa, a 12% elongation at break, and optical transmission of >75% for wavelengths between 500 and 800 nm after polymerization, and is capable of creating channels as small as 60 μm in height and membranes as thin as 20 μm. The potential of AM is just being realized as a fabrication technique for microfluidics as developments in material science and 3D printing technologies continue to push the resolution capabilities of these systems.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincent G. Colin ◽  
Théo A. Travers ◽  
Denis Gindre ◽  
Régis Barillé ◽  
Matthieu Loumaigne

Abstract The recent development of 3D printers allowed a lot of limitations in the field of microfabrication to be circumvented. The ever-growing chase for smaller dimensions has come to an end in domains such as microfluidics, and the focus now shifted to a cost-efficiency challenge. In this paper, the use of a high-resolution stereolithography LCD 3D printer is investigated for fast and cheap production of microfluidic master molds. More precisely, we use the UV LED array and the LCD matrix of the printer as an illuminator and a programmable photomask for soft lithography. The achieved resolution of around 100µm is mainly limited by the pixel geometry of the LCD matrix. A tree-shape gradient mixer was fabricated using the presented method. It shows very good performances despite the presence of sidewall ripples due to the uneven pixel geometry of the LCD matrix. Given its sub-€1,000 cost, this method is a very good entry point for labs wishing to explore the potential of microfluidic devices in their experiments, as well as a teaching tool for introducing students to microfluidics.


2014 ◽  
Vol 631 ◽  
pp. 269-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Minguella ◽  
M. Villegas ◽  
B. Poll ◽  
G. Tena ◽  
J.A. Calero ◽  
...  

The development of open source 3D printers and the continuously growing utilization of ceramic compounds in the field of medicine among others, meet in the possibility to adapt these machines in a way to permit better controlling, high resolution, automatic, printing of scaffolds, spacers and other 3D parts not possible without this kind of machines and technology. Due to the large number of applications inside the field of medicine it is required a high capacity to create structures that can reach the needs in each case. Furthermore, the possibility to modify easily and quickly these structures as the tests are being done is also very interesting for investigation. These machines allow, thanks to its open source nature, these features and more as they are not closed to changes in order to meet the needs of its users. Therefore, the focus of the present work has been to materialize and improve a head extruder for Advanced Technical Ceramics Compounds. The tests undertaken and the results outcome demonstrate the feasibility of the technology for being applied in such mentioned cases as well as the improvement on the solutions (initial and improvements) for producing automatic casting.


Inventions ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce Gale ◽  
Alexander Jafek ◽  
Christopher Lambert ◽  
Brady Goenner ◽  
Hossein Moghimifam ◽  
...  

Microfluidic devices currently play an important role in many biological, chemical, and engineering applications, and there are many ways to fabricate the necessary channel and feature dimensions. In this review, we provide an overview of microfabrication techniques that are relevant to both research and commercial use. A special emphasis on both the most practical and the recently developed methods for microfluidic device fabrication is applied, and it leads us to specifically address laminate, molding, 3D printing, and high resolution nanofabrication techniques. The methods are compared for their relative costs and benefits, with special attention paid to the commercialization prospects of the various technologies.


Author(s):  
V. Castano ◽  
W. Krakow

In non-UHV microscope environments atomic surface structure has been observed for flat-on for various orientations of Au thin films and edge-on for columns of atoms in small particles. The problem of oxidation of surfaces has only recently been reported from the point of view of high resolution microscopy revealing surface reconstructions for the Ag2O system. A natural extension of these initial oxidation studies is to explore other materials areas which are technologically more significant such as that of Cu2O, which will now be described.


Nature ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 588 (7839) ◽  
pp. 594-595
Author(s):  
Cameron Darkes-Burkey ◽  
Robert F. Shepherd
Keyword(s):  

2018 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
pp. 840-842
Author(s):  
Wojciech Musialik ◽  
Marcin Nabialek ◽  
Slawomir Letkiewicz ◽  
Andrei Victor Sandu ◽  
Katarzyna Bloch

The paper presents the possibility of using an innovative hydroxyapatite filament Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2 for printing in 3D printers of bone implants and the possibility of using it during implantation with voice prostheses. The introduction of an additional colloidal silver composite in voice implants will contribute to the reduction of bacterial infections, fungal infections and granulomatous hyperplasia. The creation of a stable external ring of the vocal fistula will remove complications associated with it with enlargement of the fistula and leakiness of voice implants. The ability to print with a hydroxyapatite filament will allow digital pre-surgery modeling of bone implants suited to the needs of surgical procedures.


2021 ◽  
pp. 004005992110101
Author(s):  
A. Chloe Simpson ◽  
Andrea Ruth Taliaferro

While assistive technology is often suggested as a way to increase, maintain, or improve functional ability for individuals with disabilities within physical activity (PA) settings, cost and availability of such items are often noted as barriers. In recent years, 3D printing has become available to the general public through the adoption of 3D printers in schools, libraries, and universities. Through individual design and rapid prototyping, 3D printing can support physical educators in accommodating student need for assistive technology through a multitude of modification possibilities. This article will highlight the capacity for 3D printed assistive technology within educational settings, and will illustrate how teachers, APE specialists, and other related service personnel can utilize this technology to support student success in PE and PA settings. This article will also assist practitioners with locating, uploading, and utilizing existing collections of 3D assistive technology models from open-source websites, such as Thingiverse.


Machines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 150
Author(s):  
Andrei Marius Mihalache ◽  
Gheorghe Nagîț ◽  
Laurențiu Slătineanu ◽  
Adelina Hrițuc ◽  
Angelos Markopoulos ◽  
...  

3D printing is a process that has become widely used in recent years, allowing the production of parts with relatively complicated shapes from metallic and non-metallic materials. In some cases, it is challenging to evaluate the ability of 3D printers to make fine details of parts. For such an assessment, the printing of samples showing intersections of surfaces with low angle values was considered. An experimental plan was designed and materialized to highlight the influence of different factors, such as the thickness of the deposited material layer, the printing speed, the cooling and filling conditions of the 3D-printed part, and the thickness of the sample. Samples using areas in the form of isosceles triangles with constant height or bases with the same length, respectively, were used. The mathematical processing of the experimental results allowed the determination of empirical mathematical models of the power-function type. It allowed the detection of both the direction of actions and the intensity of the influence exerted by the input factors. It is concluded that the strongest influence on the printer’s ability to produce fine detail, from the point of view addressed in the paper, is exerted by the vertex angle, whose reduction leads to a decrease in printing accuracy.


Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (10) ◽  
pp. 2545
Author(s):  
Marcin Hoffmann ◽  
Krzysztof Żarkiewicz ◽  
Adam Zieliński ◽  
Szymon Skibicki ◽  
Łukasz Marchewka

Foundation piles that are made by concrete 3D printers constitute a new alternative way of founding buildings constructed using incremental technology. We are currently observing very rapid development of incremental technology for the construction industry. The systems that are used for 3D printing with the application of construction materials make it possible to form permanent formwork for strip foundations, construct load-bearing walls and partition walls, and prefabricate elements, such as stairs, lintels, and ceilings. 3D printing systems do not offer soil reinforcement by making piles. The paper presents the possibility of making concrete foundation piles in laboratory conditions using a concrete 3D printer. The paper shows the tools and procedure for pile pumping. An experiment for measuring pile bearing capacity is described and an example of a pile deployment model under a foundation is described. The results of the tests and analytical calculations have shown that the displacement piles demonstrate less settlement when compared to the analysed shallow foundation. The authors indicate that it is possible to replace the shallow foundation with a series of piles combined with a printed wall without locally widening it. This type of foundation can be used for the foundation of low-rise buildings, such as detached houses. Estimated calculations have shown that the possibility of making foundation piles by a 3D printer will reduce the cost of making foundations by shortening the time of execution of works and reducing the consumption of construction materials.


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