Fig. 3
Possible designs of 3D printed microfluidic devices. A CAD models of channel test devices: the left shows two straight channels that cross each other with a bridge; the right shows two serpentine channels, one above the other. The distance between channels in the Z-direction is 0.2 mm. Dimensions are in mm. Test devices (Channels) 3D printed from B poly (lactic acid) (PLA), C poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and D polycarbonate (PC). E Complex 3D spiral structure printed from PMMA. F CAD model of a passive mixer design. Dimensions are in mm. G Mixing of two fluids in the designed mixing chip. Simulated with the finite element method (FEM) in Ansys 2020 R1 Academics with a flow of 0.2 ml/min. Fluid 1 is shown in red, fluid 2 in blue, and 1:1 mixing in green. Test devices (Mixer) 3D printed from H poly (lactic acid) (PLA), I poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and J polycarbonate (PC). Top: pictures of a microfluidic passive mixing devices with a flow of 0.2 ml/min. All Scale bars measure 10 mm. Middle: volume fraction of fluid 2 (blue) in outlets compared to theoretical value (gray), analyzed with A640nm measurements. Bottom: volume fraction of fluid 1 (red) in outlets compared to theoretical value (gray), analyzed with A490nm measurements. Values are shown as mean ± SD of 3 devices