Comparison of Microscale Rapid Prototyping Techniques for Microfluidic Applications

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gordon D. Hoople ◽  
David A. Rolfe ◽  
Katherine C. McKinstry ◽  
Joanna R. Noble ◽  
David A. Dornfeld ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surface Roughness ◽  
Laser Ablation ◽  
Rapid Prototyping ◽  
Microfluidic Devices ◽  
Optical Microscope ◽  
Microfluidic Channels ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
3D Printed ◽  
Small Feature ◽  
Scanning Electron

Recent developments in microfluidics have opened up new interest in rapid prototyping with features on the microscale. Microfluidic devices are traditionally fabricated using photolithography, however this process can be time consuming and challenging. Laser ablation has emerged as the preferred solution for rapid prototyping of these devices. This paper explores the state of rapid prototyping for microfluidic devices by comparing laser ablation to micromilling and 3D printing. A microfluidic sample part was fabricated using these three methods. Accuracy of the features and surface roughness were measured using a surface profilometer, scanning electron microscope, and optical microscope. Micromilling was found to produce the most accurate features and best surface finish down to ∼100 μm, however it did not achieve the small feature sizes produced by laser ablation. 3D printed parts, though easily manufactured, were inadequate for most microfluidics applications. While laser ablation created somewhat rough and erratic channels, the process was within typical dimensions for microfluidic channels and should remain the default for microfluidic rapid prototyping.

Comparison of Microscale Rapid Prototyping Techniques

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gordon D. Hoople ◽  
David A. Rolfe ◽  
Katherine C. McKinstry ◽  
Joanna R. Noble ◽  
David A. Dornfeld ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Laser Ablation ◽  
Rapid Prototyping ◽  
Optical Microscope ◽  
Research Community ◽  
The Other ◽  
Test Part ◽  
3D Printed ◽  
Small Feature ◽  
Manufacturing Techniques ◽  
Scanning Electron

Recent advances in manufacturing techniques have opened up new interest in rapid prototyping at the microscale. Traditionally microscale devices are fabricated using photolithography, however this process can be time consuming, challenging, and expensive. This paper focuses on three promising rapid prototyping techniques: laser ablation, micromilling, and 3D printing. Emphasis is given to rapid prototyping tools that are commercially available to the research community rather those only used in manufacturing research. Due to the interest in rapid prototyping within the microfluidics community a test part was designed with microfluidic features. This test part was then manufactured using the three different rapid prototyping methods. Accuracy of the features and surface roughness were measured using a surface profilometer, scanning electron microscope (SEM), and optical microscope. Micromilling was found to produce the most accurate features and best surface finish down to ∼100 μm, however it did not achieve the small feature sizes produced by laser ablation. The 3D printed part, though easily manufactured, did not achieve feature sizes small enough for most microfluidic applications. Laser ablation created somewhat rough and erratic channels, however the process was faster and achieved features smaller than either of the other two methods.

Rapid prototyping of low-cost digital microfluidic devices using laser ablation

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohsen Annabestani ◽  
Fatemeh Esmaeili ◽  
Nooshin Orouji ◽  
Pouria Esmaeili-Dokht ◽  
Mehdi Fardmanesh
Keyword(s):  
Laser Ablation ◽  
Rapid Prototyping ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Microfluidic Devices ◽  
Digital Microfluidic

Effect of Tightening Speed on the Torque-Tension and Wear Pattern in Bolted Connections

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sayed A. Nassar ◽  
Ramanathan M. Ranganathan ◽  
Saravanan Ganeshmurthy ◽  
Gary C. Barber
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Experimental Study ◽  
Surface Roughness ◽  
Initial Level ◽  
Zinc Coating ◽  
Optical Microscope ◽  
Wear Pattern ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Contact Surfaces ◽  
Scanning Electron

This experimental study investigates the effect of tightening speed and coating on both the torque – tension relationship and wear pattern in threaded fastener applications. The fastener torque – tension relationship is highly sensitive to normal variations in the coefficients of friction between threads and between the turning head and the surface of the joint. Hence, the initial level of the joint clamp load and the overall integrity and reliability of a bolted assembly is significantly influenced by the friction coefficients. The effect of repeated tightening and loosening is also investigated using M12, Class 8.8, fasteners with and without zinc coating. The torque – tension relationship is examined in terms of the non-dimensional nut factor K. The wear pattern is examined by monitoring the changes in surface roughness using a WYKO optical profiler and by using a LECO optical microscope. A Hitachi S-3200N Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) is used to examine the contact surfaces, under the fastener head, after each tightening/loosening cycle. Experimental data on the effect of variables and the tightening speed, fastener coating and repeated tightening on the nut factor are presented and analyzed for M8 and M12, class 8.8, fasteners.

scholarly journals PELAPISAN PERMUKAAN DALAM NOSEL ROKET RKX100 DENGAN Cr2C3-NiCr HVOF: OPTIMASI KEKUATAN LEKAT MELALUI VARIASI KEKASARAN PERMUKAAN

2010 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bondan T.Sofyan ◽  
Yus Prasetyo ◽  
Sayid Ardiansyah ◽  
Yus Prasetyo ◽  
Edy Sofyan
Keyword(s):  
Surface Roughness ◽  
Thermal Spray ◽  
Bonding Strength ◽  
Spray Coating ◽  
Hardness Measurement ◽  
Thermal Spray Coating ◽  
Optical Microscope ◽  
Mechanical Interlocking ◽  
Micro Hardness ◽  
Scanning Electron

Nozzle of RKX100 rocket contributes 30 percent to the total weight of the structure, so that allowing further research on weight reduction. An alternative for this is by substitution of massive graphite, which is currently used as thermal protector in the nozzle, with thin layer of HVOF (High Velocity Oxy-Fuel) thermal spray layer. A series of study on the characteristics of various type of HVOF coating material have been being conducted. This paper presented the investigation on the HVOF Cr2C3-NiCr thermal spray coating, in particular, the optimization of bonding strength by varying surface roughness of substrates. Characterization included bonding strength test, micro hardness measurement and micro structural observation with optical microscope and scanning electron micriscope (SEM). The results showed that grit blasting pressure increass the surface roughness from 4,54 um to 5.72 um at the pressure of 6 bar. Average micro hardness of the coating was 631 VHN 300. Coating applied to the surface with rougness of 5.42 um possessed the highest bonding strength, 44 MPa. Microstructural observation by using optical microscope and scanning electron microscope (SEM) confirmed dense lamellae structure with variable composition. High coating adherence was found to be due to mechanical interlocking.

Micromachining of Metals, Alloys and Ceramics by Picosecond Laser Ablation

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenqian Hu ◽  
Galen B. King ◽  
Yung C. Shin
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscope ◽  
Laser Ablation ◽  
Picosecond Laser ◽  
Ablation Rate ◽  
Optical Microscope ◽  
Recast Layer ◽  
Laser Machining ◽  
Percussion Drilling ◽  
Scanning Electron

Microhole drilling and microstructure machining with a picosecond (ps) Nd:YVO4 laser (pulse duration of 10 ps) in metals, alloys and ceramics are reported. Blind and through microholes were drilled by percussion drilling as well as trepanning drilling. The diameters of the holes were in the range from 20 μm to 1000 μm. Microfeatures were machined and the flexibility of ps laser machining was demonstrated. The quality of drilled holes, e.g., recast layer, microcrack and conicity, and that of the microstructures, were investigated by optical microscope, surface profilometer, or scanning electron microscope (SEM). Ps laser ablation rate was investigated by experiments as well as a simplified laser ablation model.

scholarly journals Negligible-cost microfluidic device fabrication using 3D-printed interconnecting channel scaffolds

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. e0245206
Author(s):  
Harry Felton ◽  
Robert Hughes ◽  
Andrea Diaz-Gaxiola
Keyword(s):  
Rapid Prototyping ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Microfluidic Channel ◽  
Microfluidic Devices ◽  
Device Fabrication ◽  
Appropriate Technology ◽  
Channel Cross Section ◽  
Microfluidic Systems ◽  
3D Printed

This paper reports a novel, negligible-cost and open-source process for the rapid prototyping of complex microfluidic devices in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) using 3D-printed interconnecting microchannel scaffolds. These single-extrusion scaffolds are designed with interconnecting ends and used to quickly configure complex microfluidic systems before being embedded in PDMS to produce an imprint of the microfluidic configuration. The scaffolds are printed using common Material Extrusion (MEX) 3D printers and the limits, cost & reliability of the process are evaluated. The limits of standard MEX 3D-printing with off-the-shelf printer modifications is shown to achieve a minimum channel cross-section of 100×100 μm. The paper also lays out a protocol for the rapid fabrication of low-cost microfluidic channel moulds from the thermoplastic 3D-printed scaffolds, allowing the manufacture of customisable microfluidic systems without specialist equipment. The morphology of the resulting PDMS microchannels fabricated with the method are characterised and, when applied directly to glass, without plasma surface treatment, are shown to efficiently operate within the typical working pressures of commercial microfluidic devices. The technique is further validated through the demonstration of 2 common microfluidic devices; a fluid-mixer demonstrating the effective interconnecting scaffold design, and a microsphere droplet generator. The minimal cost of manufacture means that a 5000-piece physical library of mix-and-match channel scaffolds (100 μm scale) can be printed for ~$0.50 and made available to researchers and educators who lack access to appropriate technology. This simple yet innovative approach dramatically lowers the threshold for research and education into microfluidics and will make possible the rapid prototyping of point-of-care lab-on-a-chip diagnostic technology that is truly affordable the world over.

scholarly journals Rapid prototyping method for 3D PDMS microfluidic devices using a red femtosecond laser

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 168781402098271
Author(s):  
Mozafar Saadat ◽  
Marie Taylor ◽  
Arran Hughes ◽  
Amir M Hajiyavand
Keyword(s):  
Surface Roughness ◽  
Laminar Flow ◽  
Femtosecond Laser ◽  
Rapid Prototyping ◽  
Microfluidic Devices ◽  
Thermal Curing ◽  
Ramp Test ◽  
Mould Surface ◽  
Polished Metal ◽  
Pdms Device

A rapid prototyping technique is demonstrated which uses a red femtosecond laser to produce a metallic mould which is then directly used for the replica moulding of PDMS. The manufacturing process can be completed in less than 6 h making it a viable technique for testing new designs quickly. The technique is validated by creating a microfluidic device with channels of height and depth of 300 µm, with a ramp test structure where the height and width of the channels reduces to 100 µm to demonstrate the techniques 3D capabilities. The resulting PDMS device was easily removed from the metallic mould and closely replicated the shape aside the expected shrinkage during thermal curing. As the technique uses a single replica process, the surface roughness at the base of the channels corresponds to the un-ablated polished metal mould, resulting in a very low surface roughness of 0.361 nm. The ablated metallic mould surface corresponds to the top of the PDMS device, which is bonded to glass and does not affect the flow within the channels, reducing the need for optimisation of laser parameters. Finally, the device is validated by demonstrating laminar flow with the no-slip condition.

scholarly journals Macro-to-micro interfacing to microfluidic channels using 3D-printed templates: application to time-resolved secretion sampling of endocrine tissue

The Analyst ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 141 (20) ◽  
pp. 5714-5721 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica C. Brooks ◽  
Katarena I. Ford ◽  
Dylan H. Holder ◽  
Mark D. Holtan ◽  
Christopher J. Easley
Keyword(s):  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Microfluidic Devices ◽  
Microfluidic Channels ◽  
Time Resolved ◽  
Endocrine Tissue ◽  
Tissue Explants ◽  
3D Printed ◽  
Bulk Substrate

3D-printed templates enabled sculpting of design-specific fluidic reservoirs into the bulk substrate of microfluidic devices used for culture and time-resolved sampling of islets and adipose tissue explants.

A simple procedure to produce FDM-based 3D-printed microfluidic devices with an integrated PMMA optical window

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 1014-1020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucas P. Bressan ◽  
Cristina B. Adamo ◽  
Reverson F. Quero ◽  
Dosil P. de Jesus ◽  
José A. F. da Silva
Keyword(s):  
Simple Procedure ◽  
Microfluidic Devices ◽  
Microfluidic Channels ◽  
Optical Window ◽  
3D Printed ◽  
The Creation ◽  
Transparent Windows

The protocol developed enables the creation of transparent windows for the easy visualization inside the 3D-printed microfluidic channels.

scholarly journals Microfluidic devices manufacturing combining stereolithography and pulsed laser ablation

2021 ◽  
Vol 255 ◽  
pp. 12009
Author(s):  
Bastián Carnero ◽  
Carmen Bao-Varela ◽  
Ana Isabel Gómez-Varela ◽  
María Teresa Flores-Arias
Keyword(s):  
Laser Ablation ◽  
3D Printing ◽  
Pulsed Laser ◽  
Pulsed Laser Ablation ◽  
Microfluidic Devices ◽  
Hybrid Technique ◽  
Detailed Surface ◽  
3D Printed ◽  
The One ◽  
User Friendly

3D printing has revolutionized the field of microfluidics manufacturing by simplifying the typical processes offering a considerable accuracy and user-friendly procedures. For its part, laser ablation proves to be a versatile technology to perform detailed surface micropatterning. A hybrid technique that combines both technologies is proposed, employing them in their most suitable range of dimensions. This technique allows to manufacture accurate microfluidics devices as the one proposed: a microchannel, obtained using a stereolithographic printer, coupled with an array of microlenses, obtained by pulsed laser ablation of a 3D printed master.

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