Microfluidics

What are 3D-printed microfluidics?

Microfluidics is where liquids move through small channels in a controlled way. These channels can be from a millimetre thick and down to only a few microns. Due to this scale, a microfluidic device allows you to mix, change and test liquids with pumps, valves or capillary effects. You can run an experiment on a small-sized microfluidic device that has small channels with a specific design and geometry for your one experiment or certain types of experiments. It is even possible with 3D-printed microfluidics to conduct many experiments parallel to one another.

These small amounts of liquid are usually on the scale of microlitres or nanolitres to create tiny plumbing systems, but instead of water flowing through pipes, you have microscopic channels that guide liquids which is useful for scientific or medical purposes.

The importance of microfluidics

Often, microfluidic devices are known as a lab on a chip, and they usually enable complex chemical or biological processes to occur, such as mixing, separating or analysing liquids. It is crucial for industries like medical diagnostics, drug development and environmental testing. The traditional method to do this is through photolithography, which is costly and time-consuming, so using 3D printing for 3D-printed microfluidic devices can cut costs and save valuable time.

How does 3D-printed microfluidics work?

To create 3D-printed microfluidic devices, several 3D printing methods can be used which each come with their own strengths. Firstly, Stereolithography (SLA) can be used which uses a laser to cure liquid resin layer by layer. This method can produce highly precise and transparent products and is best for applications where optical clarity is vital.
Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) can also be used but it is less precise than SLA. However, FDM can create a low-cost microfluidic device that is perfect for educational applications or early-stage research.

Another way to create 3D printed microfluidics is through Digital Light Processing (DLP) which is very similar to SLA. DLP uses a projector instead of a laser and so it can produce finer details, making it perfect for intricate and complex designs. It also has faster curing times so you can receive your microfluidic device quickly, ensuring you have a short process time to gain valuable insights faster.

Two-photon polymerisation (2PP) is a cutting-edge method that can create tiny channels in microfluidic devices. It uses a focused laser to polymerise material at a nanoscale resolution. This makes this method ideal or creating extremely tiny channels and features in your products.

High clarity microchannels

With our high-resolution micro 3D printing microfluidics, you can create channels as small as 10μm. These channels are clear and crisp, allowing for quick production and precise analysis. Parts are created faster and more precisely when micro 3D printing is used instead of traditional methods. By accelerating the workflow, items may be brought to market much more quickly, and ROI can be reached more efficiently.

Quality production

As part of a high-performance and cost-effective project, it is essential to rely on the right manufacturing partners. Micro3D by IPFL has specialised in 3D-printed microfluidics and manifolds with the development of diffusion bonding and laser welding. Micro 3D printing now supports these services with even higher levels of complexity.