Low-Cost Resin 3-D Printing for Rapid Prototyping of Microdevices: Opportunities for Supporting Aquatic Germplasm Repositories

Abstract

Germplasm repositories can benefit sustainable aquaculture by supporting genetic improvement, assisted reproduction, and management of valuable genetic resources. Lack of reliable quality management tools has impeded repository development in the past several decades. Microfabricated open-hardware devices have emerged as a new approach to assist repository development by providing standardized quality assessment capabilities to enable routine quality control. However, prototyping of microfabricated devices (microdevices) traditionally relies on photolithography techniques that are costly, time intensive, and accessible only through specialized engineering laboratories. Although resin 3-D printing has been introduced into the microfabrication domain, existing publications focus on customized or high-cost (>thousands of USD) printers. The goal of this report was to identify and call attention to the emerging opportunities to support innovation in microfabrication by use of low-cost (<USD 350) resin 3-D printing for rapid prototyping. We demonstrate that low-cost mask-based stereolithography (MSLA) 3-D printers with straightforward modifications can provide fabrication quality that approaches traditional photolithography techniques. For example, reliable feature sizes of 20 µm with dimensional discrepancy of <4% for lateral dimensions and <5% for vertical dimensions were fabricated with a consumer-level MSLA printers. In addition, alterations made to pre-processing, post-processing, and printer configuration steps improved print quality as demonstrated in objects with sharper edges and smoother surfaces. The prototyping time and cost of resin 3-D printing (3 h with USD 0.5/prototype) were considerably lower than those of traditional photolithography (5 d with USD 80/prototype). With the rapid advance of consumer-grade printers, resin 3-D printing can revolutionize rapid prototyping approaches for microdevices in the near future, facilitating participation in interdisciplinary development of innovative hardware to support germplasm repository development for aquatic species.

An automated modular open-technology device to measure and adjust concentration of aquatic sperm samples for cryopreservation

“…The CMAS was designed with flexibility of open fabrication methods in mind. Certain components, such as the peristaltic pumps, can be fabricated by printing with FFF [ 28 ] (thermoplastic) or SLA/MSLA [ 35 ] (resin) 3-D printers, or by machining from stock plastic or metal. Others, such as the frame, can be 3-D printed, laser-cut, or cut and drilled with traditional machine tools such as a bandsaw and drill press.…”

Development of a Single-Piece Sperm Counting Chamber (SSCC) for Aquatic Species

“…However, the evaluated designs can be used in open-hardware applications [45][46][47]. Advancements in 3-D printing have allowed for fabrication of microfluidic devices with consumer-level machines that cost <USD 400 [22,23]. It is possible to adapt the designs developed here and fabricate 3-D printed SSCC devices that would have similar material costs, but much lower equipment costs.…”

“…For example, the UPSPERM used spectrophotometric measurements to determine both vertical velocity and sperm concentration in an open-source platform [19]. With decreasing cost and increasing resolution of consumer-grade 3-D printing in an open-hardware movement [20,21], this design can also be distributed as open hardware through file sharing and open fabrication [22,23]. However, several issues of the MEGC were identified by external testers, such as the requirement for complicated two-layer photolithography (involving alignment of photomask patterns) which prevented easy reproducible fabrication by users.…”

Exploring pathways toward open‐hardware ecosystems to safeguard genetic resources for biomedical research communities using aquatic model species

“…The resin 3-D printing is based on curing liquid photocurable resin to solid with patterns. The rapid advancement of consumer-level resin 3-D printing with high-resolution (e.g., a lateral resolution of 50 µm) offers opportunities for innovation of open-hardware microdevices (Belgodere et al, 2022;Zuchowicz et al, 2022).…”