Microscale 3D printer manufacturer Boston Micro Fabrication (BMF) has released BMF Clear, a photopolymer resin rated at greater than 90% light transmittance.
Designed for use on its 10µm and 25µm resolution printing platforms, the material is built specifically for applications where both optical performance and dimensional accuracy at the micron-scale are simultaneously required. That combination has been difficult to achieve in additive manufacturing because surface roughness at small feature sizes causes light to scatter and diffract before it clears the part.
According to BMF’s technical documentation, BMF Clear prints at layer heights between 10 and 50µm and is compatible with both the company’s high-end industrial systems and the newly launched microArch S150 series.
“By combining true optical transparency with high-resolution printing, excellent surface quality, and the precision of our Projection Micro Stereolithography (PµSL) technology, we empower innovators to create complex geometries with internal channels and integrated optical features – driving the development of next-generation microfluidics, advanced sensors, electronics and beyond,” said John Kawola, CEO of BMF.
Integrating Optical Clarity with Micron-Scale Accuracy
The applications BMF is targeting are those where both constraints matter in equal measure. Microfluidic lab-on-a-chip systems require transparent internal channels through which biological samples or chemical reagents can be optically monitored in real time.
Fiber optic components, including freeform micro-lenses printed directly onto fiber tips and chip surfaces, require materials that transmit rather than absorb light at the wavelengths in use. Waveguides and photonic interfaces for sensing and data communication depend on low-loss propagation through the printed structure.
Each of these applications demands feature resolution and surface finish that most commercial 3D printing resins cannot reliably deliver at scale.
The material has also passed biocompatibility testing for skin irritation, sensitization, and in vitro cytotoxicity, opening its use to biomedical device fabrication. Specific applications include endoscopic systems, intraocular tools, and minimally invasive drug delivery devices, all areas where component miniaturization and internal visibility are engineering constraints, not preferences.
Optical transparency in 3D printed polymers has been a recurring challenge across the industry. Several resin suppliers have introduced materials marketed as clear or transparent, but achieving greater than 90% transmittance at layer heights below 50µm requires tight control of both material chemistry and printing parameters.
The fact that BMF is pairing the resin exclusively with its own high-precision platforms suggests the optical performance specification is tied as much to the printing process as it is to the material itself.
BMF Clear is available through the manufacturer’s direct sales channels and its European distribution network.
Overcoming Traditional Barriers to Optical Scalability
The optical transparency constraint in micro scale 3D printing has been an active area of coverage. Researchers from the University of Melbourne developed a low-cost AR waveguide prototype using PolyJet 3D printing and a liquid silicone oil core. By sealing the oil within a 3D printed frame and using glass cover plates, they achieved a 93% transmittance ratio.
While manual assembly was labor intensive, the team utilized specialized techniques like FEP film application to achieve the high-precision surface smoothness required for optical clarity. The Melbourne team needed glass cover plates and specialized surface techniques just to hit their optical target on a single prototype, a problem BMF Clear is engineered to solve at production scale through material and process control within its own platform.
The same constraint appears in microfluidics manufacturing. In 2024, Skyphos Industries described developing over 40 resin formulations before meeting biocompatibility and optical clarity standards required by its customers.
CEO Elliot McAllister cited scalability as the primary barrier the company was founded to solve, and noted that precision and material compatibility remained the two hardest problems to resolve simultaneously. The two examples signal that achieving optical transparency at micron-scale resolution is a materials and process problem that has resisted general solutions.
3D Printing Industry is inviting speakers for its 2026 Additive Manufacturing Applications (AMA) series, covering Energy, Healthcare, Automotive and Mobility, Aerospace, Space and Defense, and Software. Each online event focuses on real production deployments, qualification, and supply chain integration. Practitioners interested in contributing can complete the call for speakers form here.
To stay up to date with the latest 3D printing news, don’t forget to subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry newsletter or follow us on LinkedIn.
Explore the full Future of 3D Printing and Executive Survey series from 3D Printing Industry, featuring perspectives from CEOs, engineers, and industry leaders on the industrialization of additive manufacturing, 3D printing industry trends 2026, qualification, supply chains, and additive manufacturing industry analysis.
Featured image shows BMF Clear enables scalable production of microfluidic devices, micro lenses, and integrated optical interfaces. Photo via BMF.
