Our partner, Potomac Meso, designs and develops micro wireless sensors and circuits based upon research through a National Science Foundation SBIR Phase II grant.  Using uv lasers, Potomac Meso micro-machines channels approximately 15 microns wide, that are then filled with nanoparticle silver paste.  The resulting device can be combined with other components to make such things as micro wireless sensors or mini Arduinos.

Potomac Meso founder, Dr. Paul Christensen says “In this case 3D printing is a pretty inexpensive option because of our small part size.  The packages that look like a small box are only about the size of a pack of gum.  We assemble everything including the battery, and then wrap the enclosure around it.  We can 3D print in two pieces and snap together, but if needed, we can also secure the package with epoxy.”

Since 3D printer service work is usually priced by the cubic centimeter, cost is the same if you’re making one large piece or lots of small pieces.  “So,” Dr. Christensen explains, “if you have lots of small pieces, it’s less expensive.  There is no waste in the process and additionally we don’t use very much material since it’s a hollow box.  And there’s no need for post-processing to add connector holes, as they are in the CAD design.”

While other processes like injection molding would make sense for very high volume production, for prototyping or short production runs in the thousands of pieces it is cheaper to use 3D printing.  For mold processing, cost of the mold itself would have been about $10,000 in this case.

Dr. Christensen sees 3D printing opening new doors for designers.  “This technology is a route to building different shapes that would have room to mount sensors for smart products such as clothing, jewelry, or tools.  The possibilities are limitless!”

The Saturday, March 2 event will be held at the University of Southern Maine in Portland.  The Expo is part of National Engineers Week, a program designed to interest students in engineering careers.  Started in 2009, Engineers Week corporate sponsors are a virtual who’s who in manufacturing across industries.  They include Intel, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, DuPont, IBM, Motorola, Bechtel and 3M.  In addition, just about every technical society with anything related to engineering participates, including the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, IEEE – USA, and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, to name just a few.

The Creation Station will give kids hands-on making experiences that we hope will capture their imaginations.  Using 3D printing, laser cutting and marking, and Arduinos, we’ll introduce kids to the cool technologies we use everyday in prototyping and manufacturing for our customers.  We’ll have working machines onsite, as well as pre-manufactured parts for the kids – and their parents – to turn into fun creations they get to take home.

Maine FabLab Program Director Andy Rosen sees us as the perfect technical partner since “Microfab Lab has been in the high tech contract manufacturing business for 30 years and has extensive experience with both laser machining and 3D printing.  We could not ask for a better Technical Partner for the Creation Station!”

To support the Creation Station or get information about attending, check out www.mainefablab.org.

The future of the US economy depends upon our young people going into engineering fields.  Potomac wants to be sure that happens, by helping kids see just how much fun engineering can be!

Potomac Photonics is both a user and distributor of 3D Systems 3D printers and we are excited to participate in the product line expansion.  While it might not be as critical for makers or artists, in manufacturing quality control is key to customer satisfaction.

Geomagic high-end 3D design and scanning tools are used by major corporations as diverse as Converse sneakers, Lego, BMW, and Pratt & Whitney.  But the inspection and haptic capabilities that ensure customer 3D printed parts perfectly meet their design specs are essential for 3D printing service providers like Potomac.

The Geomagic acquisition is a strategic benefit to 3D Systems and we’re excited by the business potential.  But the acquisition in human terms exceeds the latest industry growth numbers.

We’re most excited for Ping Fu.  Her success in the high tech world is an inspiration to anyone who has ever felt defeated.  She overcame horrors in Mao’s China including being separated from her family at 8 years old in the Cultural Revolution, beaten and raped, taken a political prisoner, and finally deported with no funds.

Applying her early survival skills, Ping Fu came to America working her way from maid and waitress jobs to computer programming for one of the first web browsers, Netscape.  She went on to found Geomagic, and was named Inc. Magazine’s Entrepreneur of the Year.

To Ping Fu, congratulations! We know you will continue to be an inspiration to us all!

Silicon nitride (i.e. Si₃N₄) is a hard ceramic having high strength over a broad temperature range, moderate thermal conductivity, low coeffecient of thermal expansion, moderately high elastic moudules, and high fracture toughness for a ceramic.  If you have an application that requires precision features or holes in Silicon Nitride look no further.  The MicroFab Lab is equipped with various technologies capable of cutting or drilling Silicon Nitride parts quickly and cost effectively.  In fact, depending on the application, it is possible to get parts within 24 hours of submitting a drawing.

Lanham, MD, July 2012: Online micromanufacturer, MicroFab Lab, has become an authorized partner with Kyocera Micro Tools. The partnership means users of MicroFab Lab will have access to top quality micro tools.

Since 1987, Kyocera Micro Tools has designed and manufactured tight tolerance carbide cutting tools for a broad range of markets including the electronics and medical industries.

Utilizing the latest technology, MicroFab Lab delivers low cost per hour access to world-class equipment and US-based engineers to assist a variety of industries to create micromanufactured devices. Visit its website, www.microfablab.com and follow the easy step-by-step instructions.

“We are excited to become an authorized partner with Kyocera Micro Tools,” begins Mike Adelstein, of MicroFab Lab. “Both companies have a commitment to quality and accessibility. It’s a perfect fit.”

The MicroFab Lab has the capability to drill holes and machine features as small as 1 micron in many different types of biocompatible materials including Cyclic Olefin Copolymers, Polyimide, PEEK, and many others.  With a broad-range of manufacturing technologies to choose from, we often can find a way to achieve results that have little or no heat affected zone and meet the tightest of tolerances.  Applications include catheter hole drilling, implantable devices, leak test hole drilling and many more.  All that is required is a drawing to get started.