Behind the microscope: linear motor 3D printing technology
In many medical related films and TV shows, we often see the figure of a microscope. A microscope is an optical instrument composed of one lens or a combination of several lenses, which is a symbol of humanity entering the atomic age. The main function of a microscope is to magnify small objects that can be seen by the human naked eye, usually divided into optical microscopes and electron microscopes.
Speaking of microscopes, do you know that linear motor 3D printing technology has been applied in practical cases of intelligent manufacturing of microscopes? It is reported that a team of microplastic detection assistants composed of Cartagena University of Technology, Navantis, S.M.E, and Cartagena Institute of Oceanography has developed a low-cost 3D printing microscope that can be used for detecting microplastic content in seawater.
Microplastics are one of the important sources of pollution in the ocean. According to a new report by the Australian National Science Agency, it is estimated that about 15 million tons of microplastics have fallen into the deep sea, which is more than twice the amount of plastic pollution on the ocean surface. Most plastics have a light rain of 0.5 centimeters, and due to their small size, detection is more complex, requiring the use of a microscope. Based on this, the research team developed this 3D printing microscope.
Of course, 3D printing is not an independent technology, and its development and popularization cannot be separated from the support of linear motor drive technology. Based on the mature application experience of linear motors in flat printers, it has been introduced by many equipment manufacturers into their own 3D printing equipment, achieving fast response speed and smooth operation.
