Other Polymer Fabrication Methods

Photo of a Chemical Wet Bench with Spin Coater and Hot Plate — PDMS Wet Bench

Photograph of a table with a microscope, a scale and a planetary mixer on it — PDMS Lab Workbench

Enlarged view: Photo of a Laser Cutter — VLS 2.30 Desktop Laser Cutter

The VLS 2.30 Desktop Laser Cutter is a manufacturing tool to cut and engrave plastics and thin foils. The machine is equipped with a 30W CO2 laser:

Cutting area of 40x30 cm2
3 different lenses to focus the laser to a spot ranging from 30 to 150 um in diameter
Depth of focus up to 5 mm, which enables to cut PMMA of 6-7 mm in thickness with low divergence on the walls
Wide material database with pre-set cutting/engraving parameters
Rapid and easy to use

Enlarged view: Photograph of a Nanoimprint tool on a metal table in a cleanroom — NIL Technology Compact Nanoimprint Tool

The nanoimprint tool is useful for replication of micro and nanostructures in polymers on 4 inch substrates. Both thermal and UV imprinting are possible. Stamps can be made from various materials, including silicon, nickel and (photo)polymers. Using COC film, it provides a great alternative to PDMS molding, producing hydrophobic microfluidic channels in a fracture of the time consumed for PDMS curing.

Enlarged view: Photograph of a Laboratory Hot Press — Fontijne Mechanical Laboratory Hot Press

Laboratory Hot Press for Thermal Bonding and Hot Embossing

320 x 320 mm working surface
1 - 300 kN closing force
Temperature up to 300° C
Active cooling