3D Printing
News Videos Newsletter Contact us
Home / News / 3D Printing Microsensors with MicroMaker3D
qidi

3D Printing Microsensors with MicroMaker3D

January 6, 2020

New technology from New Zealand’s Callaghan Innovation is pushing the bounds of micro-scale 3D printing. MicroMaker3D brings a new type of micro 3D printing that will underpin technologies for prototyping electronics, microparts, microsensors and IoT components, optical devices and more.

The benefits of micro 3D printing are mini — err, many. A wide range of goods can be cost-effectively produced with micro printers, such as filters, antennas, optical slits and arrays, microvalves, fluidic channels, and tiny versions of gears and springs. Most micro 3D printers operate in a similar way to SLA 3D printers where a vat of liquid photopolymer resin is selectively cured into solid objects. What makes MicroMaker3D different is its patent-pending Laminated Resin Printing (LRP) technology, which uses solid resin sheets rather than a liquid. The sheets are incredibly thin at 5 microns (0.005mm), giving the printer a voxel resolution of 5 microns. There are even applications for single-layer prints like stencils. 

LRP works like this: a sheet of dry film photoresist resin is placed on the bed and a cross-section of the model is projected onto it using an ultraviolet light source. Another sheet is then placed on top of the first and the next cross-section is projected. After all of the layers are printed, the stack of sheets is heat cured “through a precisely controlled catalytic cross-linking reaction in the activated areas” to completely polymerize the object. Finally, all of the unpolymerized resin is washed away to leave a fully dense part.

micro 3d printing

MicroMaker3D comes with some nice trade-offs. For one, it can print any degree of overhang because the unpolymerized sheets act as support materials. That also enables it to print moving parts with extremely tight tolerances. The other nice thing about LRP is that because the resin is already solid, it doesn’t shrink and warp when it cures so parts come out exactly the right size and shape. The process uses industry standard photoresists that are resistant to heat, solvents, acids, and harsh environments. Unlike photolithography, LRP doesn’t require a cleanroom, making it much more accessible.

As previously mentioned, there are numerous applications for micro 3D printing, but the team of MicroMaker3D is hoping it will revolutionize the production of microsensors. Andrea Bubendorfer, co-inventor, explains, “So you think about your phone, which maybe weighs 50 or 100 grams, but it actually takes a huge amount of resources to mine all the minerals that go into something like that. We invented this technology – a lower-cost way of being able to make these types of structures – with the hope that New Zealand companies can afford to get into this industry.”

3d printed intake stacks petg prototypes lamborghini
Related Story
Testing A Lamborghini With 3D Printed PETG Intake Stack Prototypes

Featured image courtesy of MicroMaker3D.

Share:
WhatsApp Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Buffer Reddit E-mail
About the author | Cameron Naramore
Cameron is a 3D printer and CNC operator. He's fond of cooking, traveling, and science fiction.
Join our newsletter

Our newsletter is free & you can unsubscribe any time.

Latest posts

Laser-Assisted Cold Spray Technology Enhances Material Deposition Process

Researchers at the University of Cambridge's Center for Industrial Photonics have developed a new additive manufacturing technique called laser-assisted cold spray (LACS). The... read more »

3D Printing Metal
Laser-Assisted Cold Spray Technology Enhances Material Deposition Process

Titomic Netherlands Secures Strategic Funding to Advance Cold Spray 3D Printing Technology

Titomic Limited, an Australian company specializing in cold spray additive manufacturing, has received €800,000 in funding from the Netherlands' 3D Print Kompas program.... read more »

3D Printing Metal
Titomic Netherlands Secures Strategic Funding to Advance Cold Spray 3D Printing Technology

3D-Printed Insects Help Scientists Map the Limits of Mimicry in Nature

Researchers at the University of Nottingham have developed a method to 3D print life-sized, color-accurate insect models for biological research. The team, led... read more »

Environmental

University of Hong Kong Scientists Explore Growing Organs with 3D Printing Technology

Researchers at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) are working to combine 3D-printed respiratory tissue with lab-grown organoids to create functional airways for... read more »

Bioprinting
University of Hong Kong Scientists Explore Growing Organs with 3D Printing Technology

SHINING 3D Unveils EinScan Rigil with Tri-Mode Scanning for Pro-sumer Flexibility

SHINING 3D has launched its newest flagship 3D scanner, the EinScan Rigil — touted as the world’s first 3D scanner featuring Tri-Mode operation... read more »

News
SHINING 3D Unveils EinScan Rigil with Tri-Mode Scanning for Pro-Level Flexibility

ETH Zurich 3D Prints Recycled Plastic Structure for Swiss Ice Cream Shop

ETH Zurich students have completed a 3D-printed ice cream shop in the Swiss Alpine village of Mulegns. The project, called Gelateria, was designed... read more »

Construction
ETH Zurich 3D Prints Recycled Plastic Structure for Swiss Ice Cream Shop

Hugo Launches 3D Printed Loafers with Zellerfeld

Hugo, the younger brand under Hugo Boss, has partnered with 3D printing company Zellerfeld to create a fully 3D-printed loafer. The shoe is... read more »

Fashion
Hugo Launches 3D Printed Loafers with Zellerfeld

3D Printed Resin Combines Rubber Flexibility with Plastic Strength, Surprising Scientists

Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have developed a 3D printing method that can create objects with both soft and hard... read more »

News
3D Printed Resin Combines Rubber Flexibility with Plastic Strength, Surprising Scientists

LPE Supports Queen’s Propulsion Laboratory with 3D Printed Rocket Engine Chamber

Students at Queen's University Belfast have developed what they describe as Ireland's first student-built liquid rocket engine. The Kelvin Mk.1, named after Belfast-born... read more »

3D Printing Metal
LPE Supports Queen’s Propulsion Laboratory with 3D Printed Rocket Engine Chamber

Social

  • Facebook Facebook 3D Printing
  • Linkedin Linkedin 3D Printing
Join our newsletter

Our newsletter is free & you can unsubscribe any time.

Featured Industries

  • Automotive
  • Aerospace
  • Construction
  • Dental
  • Environmental
  • Electronics
  • Fashion
  • Medical
  • Military
  • QIDI Plus4

    • - Print size: 305 x 305 x 280 mm
    • - print temperature of 370°C
    More details »
    $799.00 QIDI Store
    Buy Now
  • Snapmaker Artisan Premium 3-in-1

    • - Print size: 400 x 400 x 400 mm
    • - comes with enclosure
    More details »
    $2,999.00 Snapmaker
    Buy Now
  • QIDI Tech Q1 Pro

    • - Print size: 245 x 245 x 245 mm
    • - 600mm/s max speed
    More details »
    $449.00 QIDI Store
    Buy Now
  • QIDI Tech X-Max 3

    • - Print size: 325 x 325 x 315 mm
    • - fully enclosed
    More details »
    $799.00 QIDI Store
    Buy Now

Company Information

  • What is 3D Printing?
  • Contact us
  • Join our mailing list
  • Advertise with us
  • Media Kit
  • Nederland 3D Printing

Blog

  • Latest News
  • Use Cases
  • Reviews
  • 3D Printers
  • 3D Printing Metal

Featured Reviews

  • Anycubic Photon Mono M5s
  • Creality Ender 5 S1
  • The Mole 3D Scanner
  • Flashforge Creator 3 Pro

Featured Industries

  • Automotive
  • Aerospace
  • Construction
  • Dental
  • Environmental
  • Electronics
  • Medical
  • Military
  • Fashion
  • Art
2025 — Strikwerda en Dehue
  • Home
  • Join our mailing list
  • Contact us
Blog
  • Latest News
  • Use Cases
  • Reviews
  • 3D Printers
  • 3D Printing Metal
Featured Industries
  • Automotive
  • Aerospace
  • Construction
  • Dental
  • Environmental
  • Electronics
  • Medical
  • Military
  • Fashion
  • Art
Company Information
  • What is 3D Printing?
  • Contact us
  • Join our mailing list
  • Advertise with us
  • Media Kit
  • Nederland 3D Printing