Breakthrough high-resolution 3D printing to manufacture large-size parts that comply with ISO standards
On May 27, 2020, UpNano, a technology leader from Vienna, Austria, used nano-resolution 3D printing technology to successfully manufacture centimeter-sized bending and tensile test specimens.
Nano-level precision 3D printed ISO standard material test samples can be as large as 1 Euro cent coin
This is a technology that can 3D print 200 nanometers of precision. For the first time, it is possible to manufacture centimeter-sized material characterization test specimens according to ISO standards. UpNano GmbH, an innovative leader in high-precision two-photon polymerization (2PP) 3D printing, successfully printed the size and shape test samples required for ISO testing on the NanoOne printer with its specific photopolymer. This is the result of cooperation with the Austrian University of Vienna (TU Wien).
Two-photon absorption (2PA) spatial selectivity. The probability of 2PA is significantly reduced beyond the focal point, so the fluorescence volume is also reduced and a higher spatial resolution is achieved. A direct comparison of the single-photon beam path and the multi-photon beam path in a fluorescence microscope shows that 2PA only appears at the focal point of the beam. Therefore, monomer crosslinking only occurs on the focal plane, because the polymerization reaction depends on this nonlinear absorption, and in the case of 1-photon absorption, the emitted light will be absorbed along the entire beam. This explains why layer-by-layer production uses single-beam photon-based processes (such as stereolithography), while two-photon parts can 3D print objects with a resolution of less than 100 nm.
Previously, it was believed that using photopolymers as a material, within the sub-micron accuracy range, the two-photon 3D printer could not print the (large) size samples required for ISO testing. UpNano's proprietary adaptive resolution technology combined with a powerful laser breaks this impossibility, and can use ISO-compliant materials to 3D print nano-sized parts for industry and academia.
High-resolution 3D printing technology can produce smaller and more accurate parts than traditional manufacturing processes. However, as the potential of this technology is gaining more and more attention, industries and research institutions around the world are demanding quality information on a large number of different materials used in various printing technologies.
This is often difficult because most standard material specification testing methods require samples that are much larger than those that high-resolution 3D printers can produce. Now, UpNano, a leader in two-photon polymerization (2PP) 3D printing technology, has successfully used its NanoOne printer to successfully manufacture test specimens in the required centimeter range, using nanometer resolution.
Patented technology: adaptive resolution
Using the patented UpNano adaptive resolution technology can significantly improve production efficiency. The software classifies the selected geometry in high-resolution and low-resolution areas, and adjusts the size of the laser voxel accordingly.
High productivity segment. In order to improve production efficiency, while maintaining the mechanical properties of the printed parts, the laser focus is expanded to increase production.
High resolution segment. The laser focuses tightly on the surface to achieve the highest resolution.
The focal point of the laser can be enlarged or precisely focused on the housing and fine details. Therefore, it is possible to significantly increase the throughput while printing the inner area faster.
High-speed high-resolution 3D printing
"Our patented adaptive resolution technology can adjust the laser spot size according to the required geometry and resolution. It enables the NanoOne-printer to produce samples with nanometer resolution up to a centimeter in size." Technology Peter Gruber, the person in charge and one of the co-founders of UpNano, explained. "We now produce bend test specimens with a size of 2 cm and tensile test specimens with a length of 3.5 cm." Using the universal performance material UpPhoto, they were able to complete 30 bend test specimens within 10 hours, within 9 hours Completed 12 more complicated tensile test specimens. The printing speed of NanoOne is also very good, and it is considered to be one of the fastest high-resolution 3D printing systems on the market. In addition, such a number of test samples makes the test series conform to statistically reasonable results, so the material specifications comply with ISO standards.
NanoOne two-photon 3D printer
"The lack of standardized material specifications is a serious obstacle to the use of high-performance 3D printing technology in industrial environments. The decentralized production processes and warranty regulations of the global industry are based on standards and specifications. If your materials or equipment are not suitable This refined system, then it may be good for 3D printing, but not for mass production", CEO Bernhard Küenburg emphasized the importance of the progress made by UpNano. By addressing this requirement in the technology industry, they have strengthened their position as innovators in emerging markets for high-performance 3D printing: selling high-speed 2PP 3D printing systems, the productivity in a short production cycle is 100 times higher than other systems.
A lock ball made using two-photon 3D printing of photosensitive biomaterials to bring cells together
The function of NanOne system can not only meet the requirements of industry, but also meet the requirements of research institutions. Just recently, UpNano sold a set of equipment to MedUni in Vienna, Austria, which will be used for various research purposes. Including the fine structures required for biomedical research, such as scaffolds, membranes or microchannels, UpBio photopolymers offer the possibility of printing these tissues. This special resin allows two-photon 3D printing embedded in living cells and is a new choice for biomedical research.