Nanoscribe Extends 3D Microfabrication to Print Centimeter-Sized Structures

3D printing based on Two-Photon Polymerization closes gap with high-resolution DLP and projection micro stereolithography (PµSL)

Nanoscribe, a BICO company, introduces the Extra Large Features (XLF) Print Set, to expand the manufacturing range for its high-precision 3D printer Quantum X shape from nano- and microscale structures to millimeter- and centimeter-sized objects, while maintaining particularly complex structures and filigree details. But above all, the new XLF Print Set speeds up high-precision 3D printing many times over, making Quantum X shape the preferred choice for batch production of voluminous millimeter- and even centimeter-sized objects for the first time.

Thanks to the inherent advantages of Two-Photon Polymerization (2PP), this high-precision 3D printing technology is proven to be at least 100 times more precise than comparable technologies such as high-resolution SLA and DLP or projection micro-stereolithography (PµSL). Until now, 2PP was limited to object sizes of just a few millimeters. With the XLF Print Set, the high-precision 3D printing technology can now be seamlessly extended to centimeter-sized objects, with precision typically 2 to 5 times higher than comparable microfabrication technologies. In a single pass, objects up to 30 cubic centimeters can be produced. “The XLF Print Set brings a whole new world of opportunities to the Quantum X shape,” says Dr. Michael Thiel, Chief Science Officer and co-founder of Nanoscribe. “First and foremost, you gain a tremendous speed up in manufacturing large print quantities of voluminous objects in one batch,” Thiel summarizes one key benefit of the new XLF Print Set.

The XLF Print Set now makes it possible to print large parts with filigree features or even many millimeter-sized parts with complex structures or finest details. The Nanoscribe Quantum X shape is a superior laser-based 3D printing platform with straightforward processes and reliable workflows, so highly precise and accurate printing results are also achieved with the new XLF Print Set. It contains a new air objective with a magnification factor of 5x, resulting in an increased print field diameter of up to 3,200 µm and a comparatively large working distance of 18.5 mm. Combined with a high scanning speed, adjustable voxel sizes, and a highly sensitive photopolymer resin, the XLF Print Set provides a comprehensive solution for high-precision 3D printing in the milli- and centimeter range. It is therefore an attractive solution for prototyping and manufacturing, for example, mechanical parts such as millimeter-sized connectors and housings, microfluidic structures, and scaffolds for biomedical research.