scholarly journals Rapid and Inexpensive Fabrication of Multi-Depth Microfluidic Device using High-Resolution LCD Stereolithographic 3D Printing

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Mohamed ◽  
Hitendra Kumar ◽  
Zongjie Wang ◽  
Nicholas Martin ◽  
Barry Mills ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
3D Printing ◽  
Soft Lithography ◽  
Liquid Crystal Display ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Microfluidic Devices ◽  
Single Step ◽  
Droplet Generator ◽  
Rapid Fabrication ◽  
Printing System

With the dramatic increment of complexity, more microfluidic devices require 3D structures, such as multi-depth and -layer channels. The traditional multi-step photolithography is time-consuming and labor-intensive and also requires precise alignment during the fabrication of microfluidic devices. Here, we present an inexpensive, single-step, and rapid fabrication method for multi-depth microfluidic devices using a high-resolution liquid crystal display (LCD) stereolithographic (SLA) three-dimensional (3D) printing system. With the pixel size down to 47.25 μm, the feature resolutions in the horizontal and vertical directions are 150 μm and 50 μm, respectively. The multi-depth molds were successfully printed at the same time and the multi-depth features were transferred properly to the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) having multi-depth channels via soft lithography. A flow-focusing droplet generator with a multi-depth channel was fabricated using the presented 3D printing method. Experimental results show that the multi-depth channel could manipulate the morphology and size of droplets, which is desired for many engineering applications. Taken together, LCD SLA 3D printing is an excellent alternative method to the multi-step photolithography for the fabrication of multi-depth microfluidic devices. Taking the advantages of its controllability, cost-effectiveness, and acceptable resolution, LCD SLA 3D printing can have a great potential to fabricate 3D microfluidic devices.

scholarly journals Three-Dimensional Printing Based Hybrid Manufacturing of Microfluidic Devices

2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yunus Alapan ◽  
Muhammad Noman Hasan ◽  
Richang Shen ◽  
Umut A. Gurkan
Keyword(s):  
3D Printing ◽  
Microfluidic Device ◽  
High Surface ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Microfluidic Devices ◽  
Single Step ◽  
Device Fabrication ◽  
Hybrid Manufacturing ◽  
Fabrication Method ◽  
Design Complexity

Microfluidic platforms offer revolutionary and practical solutions to challenging problems in biology and medicine. Even though traditional micro/nanofabrication technologies expedited the emergence of the microfluidics field, recent advances in advanced additive manufacturing hold significant potential for single-step, stand-alone microfluidic device fabrication. One such technology, which holds a significant promise for next generation microsystem fabrication is three-dimensional (3D) printing. Presently, building 3D printed stand-alone microfluidic devices with fully embedded microchannels for applications in biology and medicine has the following challenges: (i) limitations in achievable design complexity, (ii) need for a wider variety of transparent materials, (iii) limited z-resolution, (iv) absence of extremely smooth surface finish, and (v) limitations in precision fabrication of hollow and void sections with extremely high surface area to volume ratio. We developed a new way to fabricate stand-alone microfluidic devices with integrated manifolds and embedded microchannels by utilizing a 3D printing and laser micromachined lamination based hybrid manufacturing approach. In this new fabrication method, we exploit the minimized fabrication steps enabled by 3D printing, and reduced assembly complexities facilitated by laser micromachined lamination method. The new hybrid fabrication method enables key features for advanced microfluidic system architecture: (i) increased design complexity in 3D, (ii) improved control over microflow behavior in all three directions and in multiple layers, (iii) transverse multilayer flow and precisely integrated flow distribution, and (iv) enhanced transparency for high resolution imaging and analysis. Hybrid manufacturing approaches hold great potential in advancing microfluidic device fabrication in terms of standardization, fast production, and user-independent manufacturing.

scholarly journals Cheap, Versatile, and Turnkey Fabrication of Microfluidic Master Molds Using Consumer Grade LCD Stereolithography 3D Printing

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincent G. Colin ◽  
Théo A. Travers ◽  
Denis Gindre ◽  
Régis Barillé ◽  
Matthieu Loumaigne
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
3D Printing ◽  
Cost Efficiency ◽  
Soft Lithography ◽  
Microfluidic Devices ◽  
Teaching Tool ◽  
3D Printer ◽  
Uv Led ◽  
Led Array ◽  
3D Printers

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.

Understanding and improving FDM 3D printing to fabricate high-resolution and optically transparent microfluidic devices

Lab on a Chip ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reverson Fernandes Quero ◽  
Gessica Domingos Silveira ◽  
Jose Alberto Fracassi da Silva ◽  
Dosil Pereira de Jesus
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
3D Printing ◽  
Fused Deposition Modeling ◽  
Microfluidic Devices ◽  
Fused Deposition ◽  
Optically Transparent ◽  
Deposition Modeling

The fabrication of microfluidic devices through Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D printing has faced several challenges, mainly regarding obtaining microchannels with suitable transparency and sizes. Thus, the use of this...

Algorithm to Reduce Leading and Lagging in Conformal Direct-Print

2018 ◽  
Vol 140 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Morteza Vatani ◽  
Faez Alkadi ◽  
Jae-Won Choi
Keyword(s):  
Additive Manufacturing ◽  
3D Printing ◽  
3D Model ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Motion Direction ◽  
B Spline ◽  
And Topology ◽  
Printing System ◽  
3D Printed ◽  
Printed Patterns

A novel additive manufacturing algorithm was developed to increase the consistency of three-dimensional (3D) printed curvilinear or conformal patterns on freeform surfaces. The algorithm dynamically and locally compensates the nozzle location with respect to the pattern geometry, motion direction, and topology of the substrate to minimize lagging or leading during conformal printing. The printing algorithm was implemented in an existing 3D printing system that consists of an extrusion-based dispensing module and an XYZ-stage. A dispensing head is fixed on a Z-axis and moves vertically, while the substrate is installed on an XY-stage and moves in the x–y plane. The printing algorithm approximates the printed pattern using nonuniform rational B-spline (NURBS) curves translated directly from a 3D model. Results showed that the proposed printing algorithm increases the consistency in the width of the printed patterns. It is envisioned that the proposed algorithm can facilitate nonplanar 3D printing using common and commercially available Cartesian-type 3D printing systems.

scholarly journals Indirect fabrication of versatile 3D microfluidic device by a rotating plate combined 3D printing system

RSC Advances ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (66) ◽  
pp. 37693-37699 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dong-Heon Ha ◽  
Dong-Hyeon Ko ◽  
Jin-oh Kim ◽  
Do Jin Im ◽  
Byoung Soo Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
3D Printing ◽  
Microfluidic Device ◽  
Chemical Resistance ◽  
Microfluidic Devices ◽  
On Demand ◽  
System P ◽  
Printing System ◽  
Sacrificial Materials ◽  
Printing Techniques ◽  
Rotating Plate

Rapid on-demand sacrificial printing techniques using suitable combinations of resin and sacrificial materials would be desirable to fabricate versatile and functional microfluidic devices with complex designs and chemical resistance.

scholarly journals 3D Printed Microfluidics

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna V. Nielsen ◽  
Michael J. Beauchamp ◽  
Gregory P. Nordin ◽  
Adam T. Woolley
Keyword(s):  
3D Printing ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Microfluidic Devices ◽  
Fabrication Method ◽  
Size Scale ◽  
Additional Work ◽  
Fluidic Devices ◽  
3D Printed ◽  
Microfabrication Techniques

Traditional microfabrication techniques suffer from several disadvantages, including the inability to create truly three-dimensional (3D) architectures, expensive and time-consuming processes when changing device designs, and difficulty in transitioning from prototyping fabrication to bulk manufacturing. 3D printing is an emerging technique that could overcome these disadvantages. While most 3D printed fluidic devices and features to date have been on the millifluidic size scale, some truly microfluidic devices have been shown. Currently, stereolithography is the most promising approach for routine creation of microfluidic structures, but several approaches under development also have potential. Microfluidic 3D printing is still in an early stage, similar to where polydimethylsiloxane was two decades ago. With additional work to advance printer hardware and software control, expand and improve resin and printing material selections, and realize additional applications for 3D printed devices, we foresee 3D printing becoming the dominant microfluidic fabrication method.

scholarly journals Tactile perception of the roughness of 3D-printed textures

2018 ◽  
Vol 119 (3) ◽  
pp. 862-876 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chelsea Tymms ◽  
Denis Zorin ◽  
Esther P. Gardner
Keyword(s):  
Surface Roughness ◽  
High Resolution ◽  
3D Printing ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Weber Fraction ◽  
Parametric Modeling ◽  
Surface Geometry ◽  
Surface Parameters ◽  
Roughness Perception

Surface roughness is one of the most important qualities in haptic perception. Roughness is a major identifier for judgments of material composition, comfort, and friction and is tied closely to manual dexterity. Some attention has been given to the study of roughness perception in the past, but it has typically focused on noncontrollable natural materials or on a narrow range of artificial materials. The advent of high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) printing technology provides the ability to fabricate arbitrary 3D textures with precise surface geometry to be used in tactile studies. We used parametric modeling and 3D printing to manufacture a set of textured plates with defined element spacing, shape, and arrangement. Using active touch and two-alternative forced-choice protocols, we investigated the contributions of these surface parameters to roughness perception in human subjects. Results indicate that large spatial periods produce higher estimations of roughness (with Weber fraction = 0.19), small texture elements are perceived as rougher than large texture elements of the same wavelength, perceptual differences exist between textures with the same spacing but different arrangements, and roughness equivalencies exist between textures differing along different parameters. We posit that papillary ridges serve as tactile processing units, and neural ensembles encode the spatial profiles of the texture contact area to produce roughness estimates. The stimuli and the manufacturing process may be used in further studies of tactile roughness perception and in related neurophysiological applications. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Surface roughness is an integral quality of texture perception. We manufactured textures using high-resolution 3D printing, which allows precise specification of the surface spatial topography. In human psychophysical experiments we investigated the contributions of specific surface parameters to roughness perception. We found that textures with large spatial periods, small texture elements, and irregular, isotropic arrangements elicit the highest estimations of roughness. We propose that roughness correlates inversely with the total contacted surface area.

scholarly journals Using high-resolution displays for high-resolution cardiac data

2009 ◽  
Vol 367 (1898) ◽  
pp. 2667-2677 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Goodyer ◽  
John Hodrien ◽  
Jason Wood ◽  
Peter Kohl ◽  
Ken Brodlie
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Liquid Crystal Display ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Rabbit Heart ◽  
Input Devices ◽  
Tiled Display ◽  
Interactive Display ◽  
Liquid Crystal Display Panel ◽  
Display Walls ◽  
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scanning

The ability to perform fast, accurate, high-resolution visualization is fundamental to improving our understanding of anatomical data. As the volumes of data increase from improvements in scanning technology, the methods applied to visualization must evolve. In this paper, we address the interactive display of data from high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging scanning of a rabbit heart and subsequent histological imaging. We describe a visualization environment involving a tiled liquid crystal display panel display wall and associated software, which provides an interactive and intuitive user interface. The oView software is an OpenGL application that is written for the VR Juggler environment. This environment abstracts displays and devices away from the application itself, aiding portability between different systems, from desktop PCs to multi-tiled display walls. Portability between display walls has been demonstrated through its use on walls at the universities of both Leeds and Oxford. We discuss important factors to be considered for interactive two-dimensional display of large three-dimensional datasets, including the use of intuitive input devices and level of detail aspects.

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