3D printers are extremely helpful instruments that may churn out purposeful prototype components in mere hours. However 3D printing isn’t recognized for its precision or accuracy. These are impartial — however associated — traits. Most 3D printing processes can’t realistically obtain constant tolerances higher than +/- 0.1mm (about 100μm), which could be very free when in comparison with even standard precision machining. However what might hobbyists obtain with a 3D printer able to micrometer tolerances? Vik Olliver desires to search out out and is within the means of creating the RepRapMicron.
The historical past of the RepRap venture is fascinating and all client 3D printers in the marketplace in the present day owe at the very least some credit score to it. However it has stagnated lately, as large leaps in innovation have change into much less widespread. RepRapMicron is the primary venture we’ve seen in a very long time that has the potential to be really revolutionary.
At its coronary heart, the RepRapMicron idea is only a regular 3D printer scaled right down to work on tiny components. However when the options of these components are measured in micrometers, most standard 3D printer designs exit the window. The 2 largest challenges are correct positioning and predictable extrusion.
Virtually any 3D printer in the present day can obtain the precision crucial with some gearing. However accuracy is a unique story. Even imperceptible slop in a gearbox would damage the accuracy. To resolve that drawback, Olliver turned to the OpenFlexure venture. It produces designs for 3-axis mechanical positioning programs constructed utilizing loose-tolerance 3D-printed components. Its unique objective was for high-performance hobbyist microscopy, however it’s the good resolution for positioning on the RepRapMicron.
The larger problem can be extrusion. For reference, a strand of spider’s silk is 3-8μm vast. The purpose for RepRapMicron is to print at 1μm. Conventional extrusion and supplies merely don’t work at that scale. Olliver plans to make the most of some type of deposition, presumably with current photosensitive resin—although it will must be a lot decrease in viscosity than what retailers often provide.
This may take a variety of experimentation and improvement earlier than it will get anyplace, however the potential is gigantic. This is able to open up an entire new world of DIY MEMS (micro-electromechanical system) fabrication to hobbyists. Such functionality will allow the development of really high-tech units, that are far out of attain proper now.
Thus far, Olliver has constructed an OpenFlexure check rig. That can let him begin experimenting and we are able to’t wait to see the place the RepRapMicron venture goes.