3D Printing of Metallic Microstructured Mould Using Selective Laser Melting for Injection Moulding of Plastic Microfluidic Devices
A new method, a 3D printing technique, in particular, selective laser melting (SLM), has been used to fabricate moulds for the injection moulding of thermoplastic microfluidic chips that are suitable for prototyping and early stage scale-up. The micro metallic patterns are printed on to a pre-finish...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2019-09-01
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| Series: | Micromachines |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/10/9/595 |
| _version_ | 1818287629511163904 |
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| author | Nan Zhang Jinghang Liu Honggang Zhang Nigel J. Kent Dermot Diamond Michael D. Gilchrist |
| author_facet | Nan Zhang Jinghang Liu Honggang Zhang Nigel J. Kent Dermot Diamond Michael D. Gilchrist |
| author_sort | Nan Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A new method, a 3D printing technique, in particular, selective laser melting (SLM), has been used to fabricate moulds for the injection moulding of thermoplastic microfluidic chips that are suitable for prototyping and early stage scale-up. The micro metallic patterns are printed on to a pre-finished substrate to form a microstructured mould. The dimensional accuracy, surface morphology, bonding strength between the printed patterns and substrate, as well as the microstructure of micro features were all characterized. A microfluidic mould was successfully printed and used directly for injection moulding of cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) microfluidic chips, which were used subsequently to successfully monitor nitrite concentrations in environmental water. The characterization indicated that this new process can be used for fast fabrication of mould tools for injection moulding/hot embossing microfluidic devices. It is faster, more flexible and less expensive than conventional micro-machining processes, although the accuracy and finish are still needed to improve though process optimization and hybrid SLM and machining processes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T01:43:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d3241d5ba93c4eaa8745e6018ffe3ace |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-666X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T01:43:32Z |
| publishDate | 2019-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Micromachines |
| spelling | doaj.art-d3241d5ba93c4eaa8745e6018ffe3ace2022-12-22T00:03:41ZengMDPI AGMicromachines2072-666X2019-09-0110959510.3390/mi10090595mi100905953D Printing of Metallic Microstructured Mould Using Selective Laser Melting for Injection Moulding of Plastic Microfluidic DevicesNan Zhang0Jinghang Liu1Honggang Zhang2Nigel J. Kent3Dermot Diamond4Michael D. Gilchrist5Center of Micro/Nano Manufacturing Technology (MNMT-Dublin), School of Mechanical & Materials Engineering, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, IrelandCenter of Micro/Nano Manufacturing Technology (MNMT-Dublin), School of Mechanical & Materials Engineering, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, IrelandCenter of Micro/Nano Manufacturing Technology (MNMT-Dublin), School of Mechanical & Materials Engineering, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, IrelandNational Centre for Sensor Research, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, IrelandNational Centre for Sensor Research, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, IrelandCenter of Micro/Nano Manufacturing Technology (MNMT-Dublin), School of Mechanical & Materials Engineering, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, IrelandA new method, a 3D printing technique, in particular, selective laser melting (SLM), has been used to fabricate moulds for the injection moulding of thermoplastic microfluidic chips that are suitable for prototyping and early stage scale-up. The micro metallic patterns are printed on to a pre-finished substrate to form a microstructured mould. The dimensional accuracy, surface morphology, bonding strength between the printed patterns and substrate, as well as the microstructure of micro features were all characterized. A microfluidic mould was successfully printed and used directly for injection moulding of cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) microfluidic chips, which were used subsequently to successfully monitor nitrite concentrations in environmental water. The characterization indicated that this new process can be used for fast fabrication of mould tools for injection moulding/hot embossing microfluidic devices. It is faster, more flexible and less expensive than conventional micro-machining processes, although the accuracy and finish are still needed to improve though process optimization and hybrid SLM and machining processes.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/10/9/595selective laser melting (SLM)3D printingmicro featuresinjection moulding |
| spellingShingle | Nan Zhang Jinghang Liu Honggang Zhang Nigel J. Kent Dermot Diamond Michael D. Gilchrist 3D Printing of Metallic Microstructured Mould Using Selective Laser Melting for Injection Moulding of Plastic Microfluidic Devices Micromachines selective laser melting (SLM) 3D printing micro features injection moulding |
| title | 3D Printing of Metallic Microstructured Mould Using Selective Laser Melting for Injection Moulding of Plastic Microfluidic Devices |
| title_full | 3D Printing of Metallic Microstructured Mould Using Selective Laser Melting for Injection Moulding of Plastic Microfluidic Devices |
| title_fullStr | 3D Printing of Metallic Microstructured Mould Using Selective Laser Melting for Injection Moulding of Plastic Microfluidic Devices |
| title_full_unstemmed | 3D Printing of Metallic Microstructured Mould Using Selective Laser Melting for Injection Moulding of Plastic Microfluidic Devices |
| title_short | 3D Printing of Metallic Microstructured Mould Using Selective Laser Melting for Injection Moulding of Plastic Microfluidic Devices |
| title_sort | 3d printing of metallic microstructured mould using selective laser melting for injection moulding of plastic microfluidic devices |
| topic | selective laser melting (SLM) 3D printing micro features injection moulding |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/10/9/595 |
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