A high-power laser, optimised optical pathway, a patented adaptive resolution technology and smart algorithms for laser scanning allow high-resolution 3D-printing as never seen before. Parts with nano and micro scale resolution can now be printed across 12 orders of magnitude – within times never achieved previously. This has been accomplished by the UpNano GmbH, a spin-out of the TU Wien, which developed a high-end 2PP 3D-printing system that can produce polymeric parts with a volume ranging from 100 to 1012 cubic micrometer. At the same time the printer allows for a nano and micro scale resolution.
Recently the company demonstrated this remarkable capability by printing four models of the Eiffel Tower ranging from 200 micrometers to 4 centimeters, with perfect representation of all minuscule structures within 30 to 540 minutes. With this, 2PP 3D-printing is ready for applications in research and development and industry that seemed so far impossible.
2-photon polymerisation (2PP) 3D-printing is an ultra-precise production technology that so far could only be optimised for a very limited range of scale. Also, production in the centimeter-range (meso-range) took extremely long time and thus was unattractive for quantitative production in industry. The company now demonstrates what seemed impossible: Their NanoOne printing system can produce highly precise specimens with nano and micrometer resolution that range from centi, to milli to micrometer in size and this within minutes.
Photons with power
Peter Gruber, head of technology and co-founder of UpNano, said, “We developed and patented an innovative adaptive resolution technology for our 3D printing system. Together with an optimised optical path and smart algorithms, we can utilise the full laser power up to 1 Watt, which is several times more than in comparable systems.”
Such a powerful laser delivers enough energy for high-speed printing especially in the adaptive resolution mode. This, in fact, is a significant advantage compared to other systems that use weaker lasers and are therefore limited in throughput.
Bernhard Küenburg, CEO, UpNano, said, “The benefit of this innovation is most notable in the meso-range. The NanoOne system offers significant faster production times than other systems. Add our patented adaptive resolution technology to this and you end up with a capability to print centimeter large objects with a micrometer resolution in short production cycles.”
This algorithm allows a widening of the laser spot up to a factor of 10 in accordance with the specifications of the printed specimen. A simple change of objectives (there are different ones available, ranging from 4 times magnification to 100 times) allows the production of parts in the micro-range with resolutions at the nanometer scale. This, too, is much faster than other systems thanks to the specific optical pathways, the optimised scan algorithms and the proprietary adaptive resolution technology. In fact, the product is capable of manufacturing objects with volumes ranging across 12 orders of magnitude. Dimensions in the micrometer-range are equally possible as in the centimeter-range, while maintaining ultra-high resolution and all that in the shortest possible time.
From research and development to industry
Thanks to this high versatility, the system has been met with great interest in research and development and in industry right after its introduction. An example for its use in medicine and research is the production of micro needles with tight tolerances and defined features such as the sharp tip, the cannula or reservoir.
Functional micro-mechanic parts reflect another interesting area of application for the product's technology. A benchmarking example is a functional spring with a height of 6 millimeter printed in less than 6 minutes or two-components parts with included moveable elements, printed in single printing jobs for med-tech applications.
Filters are the third of numerous examples demonstrating the size-range of the NanoOne. Sizes of several square centimeters with pore sizes in the low single digit micrometer-range can be printed within hours.
“Such filters have exactly defined pore sizes for 100 per cent of all pores”, explains Bernhard Küenburg. Variations in pore sizes are thus as much history as are unsatisfying filter results. In this way, the NanoOne of UpNano offers a new horizon for filtering and separation processes – a horizon that exemplifies the innovative power of the company.