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Multiphoton Optics, a subsidiary of photolithography technology developer Heidelberg Instruments Mikrotechnik, has announced its new two-photon polymerization (TPP) 3D printer.
Sporting a 100 x 100mm print area, the MPO 100 is defined by its “1-10-100-1000” capabilities: part heights of over 1cm, surface roughnesses in the order of 10nm, print resolutions of less than 100nm, and print speeds of over 1000mm/s. As such, it’s designed for the fabrication of structures anywhere from the submicrometer to the millimeter ranges, all while maintaining high throughputs.
Aimed primarily at research institutions and R&D teams, the microprinter is expected to enable a wide variety of applications in fields such as micro-optics, microfluidics, biomedicine, and more. Heidelberg Instruments is set to showcase the MPO 100 at SPIE Photonics West 2022 in San Francisco, which will run from January 25 – 27.
Dr. Benedikt Stender, CEO of Multiphoton Optics, said, “The MPO 100 is a unique tool for microfabrication and achieves the highest resolution among additive manufacturing processes at 100 nanometers. Furthermore, the 1-10-100-1000 capability of the MPO 100 will enable users at universities, R&D institutions, as well as the industry and offer significant advantages for new developments.”
Three decades of photolithography
Heidelberg Instruments has been producing high-precision photolithography systems and nanofabrication tools for over 35 years. Serving a wide variety of industrial and scientific organizations around the world, the firm has installed more than 1,000 of its systems to date. The company’s product portfolio includes direct writing systems and photomask fabrication systems, with applications in semiconductors, quantum computing, photonics, IoT, and more.
Multiphoton Optics, on the other hand, has been a wholly-owned subsidiary of Heidelberg Instruments since 2021. The company focuses specifically on maskless 3D laser lithography equipment for two-photon polymerization additive manufacturing.
The MPO 100 3D printer
Multiphoton Optics’ new TPP 3D printer features a laser wavelength in the green spectral range (522nm), which reportedly makes the system well-suited to printing with both organic and hybrid polymer materials. This includes ormocers, a class of polymers known for its unique optical, mechanical, and chemical properties.
Additionally, the printer comes equipped with proprietary algorithms intended to maximize part quality. Mulitphoton Optics claims that the synchronized scanning system of the MPO 100 is capable of delivering stitching-free patterning, meaning layer lines should be invisible.
According to the firm, the microprinter is currently the only one of its kind equipped with a flowbox that guarantees temperature stabilities of within 0.1°C, which is crucial when it comes to larger-scale laser exposures. The MPO 100 even offers a number of application-specific writing modes that allow users to customize their parameters based on the printing requirements of the project.
“With the MPO 100, we have combined the strengths of both companies in one system: Multiphoton Optics’ sophisticated exposure unit for two-photon polymerization and Heidelberg Instruments’ industrial platform, which guarantees the required stability and meets the necessary industry standards,” said Steffen Diez, COO of Heidelberg Instruments. “The capabilities of the MPO 100 are already very popular with our customers, who benefit from the worldwide support from our service organization and ISO-certified production.”
The MPO 100 was designed and developed by Multiphoton Optics. Going forward, Heidelberg Instruments Mikrotechnik will be responsible for sales and service.
Technical specifications and pricing
Below are the technical specifications for the MPO 100 3D microprinter. Visit the Heidelberg Instruments Mikrotechnik store page for a quote.
| Build area | 100 x 100mm |
| Max print height | Over 1cm |
| Min surface roughness | 10nm |
| Min feature size | 100nm |
| Max scan speed | 1000mm/s |
| Laser wavelength | 522nm |
| Dimensions | 1300 x 1100 x 1950mm |
| Weight | 1000kg |
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Featured image shows the MPO 100. Photo via Multiphoton Optics.
