Investigating the capability of low-cost FDM printers in producing microfluidic devices

Abstract

This paper aims to investigate the possibilities of using 3D printing by fused deposition modelling (FDM) technology for developing micro-fluidic devices by printing a benchmark test part. A low-cost desktop printer is evaluated to compare the minimum possible diameter size, and accuracy in the microchannel body. The parts were designed using SolidWorks 2016 CAD software and printed using a low-cost desktop FDM printer and Polylactic acid (PLA) filament. Desktop 3D printers are capable of printing open microchannels with minimum dimensions of 300 µm width and 200 µm depth. Future works should focus on developing new materials and optimizing the process parameters of the FDM technique and evaluating other 3D printing technologies and different printers. The paper shows the possibility of desktop 3D printers in printing microfluidic devices and provides a design of a benchmark part for testing and evaluating printing resolution and accuracy.