Simple and Versatile 3D Printed Microfluidics Using Fused Filament Fabrication
Fig 8
Lego® like 3D printed modules.
A) Profile illustration of the female (top) and male (bottom) inlet/outlet modules, when not connected together, showing the internal structure of the modules with a channel running through both modules from a threaded finger-tight fitting port. B) Photograph of two modules when connected together. Modules are connected by simply pushing them together interlocking the rounded studs on the male block into the recess in the female blocks. No form of adhesion is necessary. The modules in this image were created on a stereolithography printer for increased transparency. C) Pressure limit of the Lego®-like modular system, as determined experimentally. Error bars represent 95% confidence level. The pressure limit is compared to the previously reported pressures tolerances of alternative techniques: Maximum pressure of plasma bonded PDMS-PDMS and PDMS-Glass devices [43]; Stereolithography printed modules connected to a microfluidic ‘breadboard’[33]; PDMS modules secured to glass using uncured PDMS with blocks connected together using UV curable adhesive [44]; Self-aligning PDMS jigsaw modules secured to glass using uncured PDMS [45]. D) A modular system created using 7 different modules connected together without the need of any adhesive. This system features 4 inlet/outlet modules, a T-junction, a flow-focusing junction and a collection vessel module.