Hackaday · Maken

DIY Micron-Scale 3D Printer Uses Turmeric Dye

A hacker has developed a low-cost, micron-scale resin 3D printer by adapting a fiber-coupled laser and micro-manipulator, achieving resolutions previously only possible with expensive commercial machines.

The printer utilizes a micro-manipulator to position an optical fiber just above a resin-coated build plate. A 405-nm laser is shone through the fiber, curing the resin in a narrow cone. The micro-manipulator traces patterns to build objects, similar to FDM printing. The cured resin detaches cleanly from the fiber due to its small inner core (three microns).

Initial tests revealed that standard resins allowed UV light to penetrate too easily, limiting resolution. Dissolving a UV-absorbent dye in the resin solved this by controlling light penetration depth. Curcumin, the natural dye from turmeric, proved effective and is easily extracted with alcohol.

With this modification, the printer successfully produced 150 µm long Benchies, a Stanford bunny smaller than a human hair, and other microscopic objects. The curcumin dye also imparts a slight fluorescence under UV light, aiding in their retrieval under a microscope.

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