BMF’s technology was founded on a 3D printing technique called Projection Micro Stereolithography (PµSL), which allows for ultra-high resolution, accuracy and precision. There are many different types of 3D printing technologies on the market and many industries use additive manufacturing to address bottlenecks within product development and small volume manufacturing. However, when it comes to micro sized parts, industries tend to overlook the production time to market. Time to market for these smaller parts is often longer due to their complexity. Additionally, traditional microfabrication techniques such as micro machining, micro injection molding, and diamond turning have very high set up costs and long lead times to develop the necessary tooling. Additive manufacturing can mitigate the high cost and long lead times associated with traditional microfabrication.
Additive Manufacturing for Microfabrication
The current world of additive manufacturing is interested in printing small, micro-scale parts, but the overall focus and target markets have not been fully defined. Many companies that work with microfabrication may not have considered using additive techniques in the past. Until recently, additive manufacturing hasn’t been able to produce the complex, high resolution parts. With Projection Micro Stereolithography, users can get the resolution, accuracy, and precision needed to print viable parts on a microscale.
Projection Micro Stereolithography
Projection Micro Stereolithography (PµSL) printers separate themselves from other 3D printing techniques by utilizing the benefits of both DLP and SLA technologies. PµSL involves printing in the top down direction of SLA. However rather than using a small spot laser, the entire image, or a section of the image is cured as done in DLP. A thin plastic membrane that is consistently stretching and leveling the uncured resin within the vat. This process fabricates micro-sized parts with top notch resolution, at much faster speeds than traditional microfabrication techniques. By using PµSL technology, current additive users can push and extend the limitations of traditional SLA and DLP technologies while new users can unlock capabilities within their business that were once unachievable.
For more information on PµSL, download the complete white paper: Introduction to 3D Printing with PµSL
