Re: 3D printers for microscopy projects

Posted by Craig Brideau on
URL: http://confocal-microscopy-list.275.s1.nabble.com/Re-MetaMorph-Journal-to-image-wandering-cells-tp7579685p7579749.html

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The machine is about $200-250k I think.  The resin is $1300 to $1500 for a
3.6kg 'cartridge' of the biocompatible material.  The standard structural
material is around $1000 for the same mass.  We found that 3.6kg will
actually go quite a long way.  One catch; the material doesn't have a very
long shelf life so you have to use it within a couple months of purchase
for the biocompatible or about 6 months for the regular stuff.  As a
result, make sure you have all your designs and whatnot ready to go when
you place your order for the resin.  There's also a cleanout procedure you
have to do when switching materials which wastes a few hundred grams as you
have to rince the previous material out of the print heads with new stuff.
 You also need proper ventilation and power for the thing so budget for
some minor room renovations when you install the thing.  It has a huge
print tray though; it can print things the size of a medium-sized suitcase
if you want to use up that much material.  We'd regularly print 100 items
or so in a single run.  I've also used it to make optical mounts for PMTs
and other small mechanical parts in addition to the biocompatible chambers
and the like.  It works fairly well with Autodesk Inventor Professional,
which is free if you are a student/academic user.

Craig


On Tue, Feb 19, 2013 at 2:21 PM, Armstrong, Brian <[hidden email]>wrote:

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> Craig, can you provide a rough estimate of what it costs in materials (and
> time) to operate this system?
> Thanks,
>
> Brian D Armstrong PhD
> Assistant Research Professor
> Director, Light Microscopy Core
> Beckman Research Institute
> City of Hope
> Dept of Neuroscience
> 1450 E Duarte Rd
> Duarte, CA 91010
> 626-256-4673 x62872
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[hidden email]]
> On Behalf Of Craig Brideau
> Sent: Tuesday, February 19, 2013 1:00 PM
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: Re: 3D printers for microscopy projects
>
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> On the high end, I have access to an Objet Connex500.  It has 15um
> resolution (which is a bit insane) and prints in a wide variety of
> materials.  The main drawback is the materials are all proprietary and a
> bit expensive, but they do give very nice results.  We're working with the
> biocompatible material (originally for dentistry) which has allowed us to
> print some tissue hold-downs and cell chambers for ex vivo live imaging.
>  I'll let you know how 'biocompatible' it turns out to be in the long run,
> but so far we've had no issues with it for spinal cord and the like.
>
> Craig
>
>
> On Mon, Feb 18, 2013 at 10:58 AM, Kurt Thorn <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
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> > On 2/18/2013 8:08 AM, Arvydas Matiukas wrote:
> >
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> >>
> >> Dear list,
> >>   Please share/advice what 3D printers you use to manufacture
> >> parts for microscopy projects. BTW, what is good enough
> >> material to make mechanical/microscopy parts from?
> >>   We are expanding our Confocal Microscopy Core along with
> >> other Cores as we will be moving into a new research building,
> >> and I would like to start using 3D printer. So far on the listserv
> >> I found only mentioning of manufacturing some "crude boxes"
> >> http://derisilab.ucsf.edu/**index.php?page=3D<
> http://derisilab.ucsf.edu/index.php?page=3D>
> >>
> > I've used the Uprint printer mentioned in the Derisilab link for printing
> > a number of microscopy parts.  I've made adapters for the Nikon condensor
> > dovetail for mounting custom transillumination optics, filter holders
> that
> > slot into the Nikon filter turret for holding single emission filters
> > (these use a Thorlabs 1" tube to hold the filter), and a large number of
> > stage inserts and sample holders.  That Uprint printer has about 200 um
> > resolution so it's not great for printing really finely detailed objects,
> > but for these kinds of things it works great. It prints ABS, which is
> > pretty sturdy, and it also prints a dissolvable support allowing for
> > overhangs, windows, and nested objects.
> >
> > One of these days I will post all of the CAD files we've generated....
> >
> > Kurt
> >
>
>
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