3D printed mould keeps micro-part development on track

US shop Potomac Photonics said it has created a 3D-printed mould for the Sloan-Kettering Institute for a microfluidic application.

According to the company, the acrylic 3D-printed prototypes are moulds, subsequently used for PDMS microfabrication. PDMS microchambers are now broadly used for biology and biomedical applications. However, development of such microfabricated devices (often based on photolithography) can be a bottleneck as it requires costly equipment and long process cycles.

The company explained that acrylic 3D printing allows rapid prototyping of microfluidic assay for moderate price. In particular, the mould (photo) is used to make a PDMS microchamber for cancer cell growth in a controlled environment.

This project was partly funded by Potomac Photonics Educational Manufacturing Initiative, a programme for partnerships with universities and researchers.