3D microprinting, also known as microprinting, is a micro-manufacturing technique that enables the design of very small sizes in the micron range and below. Particularly popular in the electronics industry, it is experiencing gradual growth as more and more solutions are available in the market. 3D microprinters are therefore able to deposit successive layers of material to form a part that is both tiny and highly detailed. In addition to the electronics sector, where they enable the miniaturization of devices, these machines are also increasingly being used in the healthcare and optics sectors. Today we invite you to come back to the 3D microprinters on the market, whether they are based on resins, powders or even glass.
Boston Micro Fabrication and its range of 2 µm printers
With its very high resolution, Boston Micro Fabrication’s 2 μm series is compatible with many materials. The 3D printer is particularly suitable for developing CAD-true prototypes with maximum similarity to the end product. The printer’s name comes from the motion platform, which offers a resolution of up to 2 μm. In addition, the “step-and-repeat” process enables large areas to be printed. Other attributes of the printer are real-time image control, exposure compensation and autofocus. You have the choice between the microArch® S130 and the microArch® S230. The difference between the two is the build volume: the microArch® S130 offers a platform of 50 x 50 x 10 mm compared to 50 x 50 x 50 mm for the other micro 3D printer. The latter can not only print photoresists, but also ceramics.
Photo credit: Boston Micro Fabrication
With Fabrica 2.0, Nano Dimension offers a DLP solution
The Fabrica 2.0 micro 3D printer is actually a solution developed by Nanofabrica, which was acquired by Nano Dimension in 2021 and renamed Fabrica Group. Although the Fabrica 2.0 now falls under Nano Dimension, it was made using Fabrica’s resin 3D microprinting technology. This solution leverages Micro DLP AM technology and, according to Nano Dimension, achieves faster speeds than other micro fabrication processes with print rates 5x to 100x faster. It is ideal for series with high throughput and small quantities, such as e.g. B. tools, and offers a resolution of 1.9 µm with layer thicknesses of 1 to 5 µm. The dimensions of the print aren’t huge (50mm x 50mm x 100mm), but the company emphasizes its precision, considering it’s “additive manufacturing micron by micron”.
Part printed on Fabrica 2.0 (Image credit: Nano Dimension)
NanoOne by UpNano
UpNano is an Austrian company specializing in high-resolution 3D printing systems. His NanoOne micro 3D printer is based on multi-photon lithography and combines the precision of two-photon polymerisation with a throughput of less than 450 mm³ per hour. The system is therefore not only suitable for scientific research, but also for the series and small series production of micro parts for industrial use. NanoOne focuses on high-resolution bioprinting, i.e. 3D printing with living cells and thus the combination of polymer material and cell research, thanks to the speed and system technology.
Photo credit: UpNano
MICROFAB-3D, the 3D micro printer from MicroLight3D
MicroFAB-3D is an open 3D microfabrication platform for research applications. It is a high-resolution 3D printing system based on direct laser writing technology with two-photon polymerization. According to MicroLight3D, its French manufacturer, this technology makes it possible to eliminate the traditional “layer-by-layer” approach and print more complex geometries without resorting to support materials or post-processing. The size of the print is scalable via software provided by the company and can be as small as 0.2 microns wide.
For impression materials, Microlight3D offers a range of 10 proprietary photoresists optimized for two-photon curing technology. However, this technology is compatible with a wide range of commercial resins and certified biocompatible materials such as hydrogels or proteins to create micromedical devices. MicroFAB-3D was developed for a variety of fields such as microfluidics, microoptics, cell culture, microrobotics or metamaterials.
2mm high stents printed in a biocompatible material printed on the MicroFAB-3D (Image credit: MicroLight3D)
Nanoscribe and the Quantum X Form
The Quantum X Shape is based on the two-photon grayscale lithography process (2GL ® ). Thanks to the voxel-tuning ability of this technology, very precise, even micro-structured surfaces can be printed, be it for biomedical, micro-optics, micro-electromechanical or even prototyping development. Thanks to nanoConnectX, a multi-user configuration, the printing process can be monitored remotely. Note that the Quantum X Shape solution is suitable for designing parts at the nanometer scale as well as larger parts – it offers a volume of up to 50 x 50 x 12 mm³.
Photo credit: Nanoscribe
MultiPhoton and its micro 3D printer MPO 100
The subsidiary of Heidelberg Instruments Mikrotechnik GmbH, Multiphoton Optics GmbH, presented its micro 3D printer designed for industry in 2022. It is called MPO 100, measures 1300 x 110 x 1950 mm and weighs 1000 kilograms; its printing area is 100 x 100 x 100 mm. The manufacturer points out that this represents a high print volume for 3D microprinting and thus encourages the user to produce complex microstructures. It should also be noted that the MPO 100 is based on Two Photon Polymerization (TPP), a direct laser writing technology in which an interaction between light and matter takes place only in the space of the directed laser spot. Finally, it should be noted that the MPO 100 is used in particular in optics, photonics, mechanics and biomedical engineering.
The micro 3D printer Hammer Lab35
Developed by Austrian manufacturer Incus, the Hammer Lab35 machine is used to design metal micro parts mainly for the medical, electronics and jewelry industries. It is based on the lithography-based metal fabrication process that uses the principle of photopolymerization and metal powders dispersed in a photosensitive resin. According to Incus, once the print is complete, we remove the green parts from the print cake in just 15 minutes. This is followed by the post-processing steps: cleaning, debinding and sintering in order to preserve all the properties of the metal. On the material side, the Hammer Lab35 is compatible with stainless steel, copper, titanium and all metals compatible with the MIM.
Exaddon and its CERES microfabrication system
The Swiss company Exaddon is dedicated to the development of high-precision 3D microprinting solutions for a wide range of applications. In particular, it is the origin of the innovative metal-additive micro-manufacturing system CERES, which was developed for scientists and companies. CERES is capable of producing complex micron-scale metal parts in sizes from 1 µm to 1000 µm at room temperature and without any post-processing step. The system is powered by CAPA software developed by Exaddon, whose intuitive user interface allows all parts to be connected together. Not only can it print pure metals (copper, gold, nickel, silver), but it also has submicron resolution, making it ideal for research centers looking to innovate in this field. You can learn more about the manufacturing process in this video:
3D MicroPrint and its DMP60 series
The DMP60 is the second line of laser microsintering machines from German manufacturer 3D MicroPrint (founded in 2013 as part of a collaboration between EOS and 3D-Micromac). It is a range of industrial machines that offer high productivity when used with non-reactive and reactive materials. The DMP60 has a laser spot of less than 30 microns for high-precision printing. With a 60mm print bed and 30mm height, the printer is ideal for small parts, and the layer thickness of between 1 and 5 microns allows for a detailed final design.
Photo credit: 3D MicroPrint
Nanogrande and its 3D micro printer MPL-1
Nanogrande is a Canada-based 3D printing company that developed the MPL-1 micro 3D printer based on patented FluidBedTM technology. The MPL-1 is intended for industrial applications with fine metal powders with a maximum size of only 250 cc. Its build time is one minute per layer and the optimum particle size is 0.3 to 10 microns. The MPL-1 uses metals such as stainless steel, copper and titanium. The printer is generally used with nanoparticles, but can also be used with micron-sized particles. According to the manufacturer, the printer is currently used by watchmakers, jewelers and manufacturers of miniature electronic components.
Photo credit: Nanoscribe
FemtoPrint and 3D glass microprinting
FemtoPrint is an unusual company, not only in our list, but also in the field of 3D printing in general because it uses glass as a material. The Swiss company is dedicated to the production of 3D printed micro devices with glass and other transparent materials and offers services, solutions and its own platform called FEMTOPRINT®. She claims that this solution is an ideal 3D printing platform for academic and industrial applications. Essentially, the technology works by using light as a powerful source of ink. The beam focused inside the glass changes the refractive index (the ability of an optical medium to bend light) and the density of the material. On its website, the company explains that “depending on the exposure parameters, waveguides can be shaped to realize complex integrated optical components or three-dimensional structures by additional chemical etching. For finished parts, users can expect sub-1µm resolution, and the company can also combine 3D microdevices with metal deposition and surface functionalization for unique 3D structures.
Photo credit: FemtoPrint
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