Cubicure and UpNano, two OEMs that have built respective expertise in hot lithography and 2PP 3D printing, joined forces to leverage the advantages of these technologies to advance materials. Their collaboration led to the development of a new high-performance polymer with exceptional heat resistance, suited for ultra-precise 2-photon polymerization (2PP) 3D printing.
Named „UpThermo powered by Cubicure“, the new material would enable micro-3D printing to meet the specific requirements of the electrical industry. As a reminder, UpNano GmbH produces the NanoOne series of 2PP 3D printers, that can print structures with nanometer resolution as well as in centimeter sizes. Although the printers’ applications already include electronics in addition to micro-optics and biocompatible applications in cell and medical research, the use of 2PP 3D printing in this industry has been limited by the lack of heat resistance of the printable materials – which has now been addressed through this collaboration with Cubicure.
So far, UpNano’s portfolio of performance materials include precision materials, high-temperature materials with good fire resistance, impact-resistant photopolymers, and elastomer-type materials that are widely used in the industry. Ultra-precise 2PP 3D printing requires special starting materials. However, until now, these have not allowed the production of temperature-resistant components with the stability needed, for example, in the electrical industry or for the production of micro-injection molds.
The UpThermo material, which is available immediately, is stable up to 300 degrees Celsius (HDT-B, the test specimens were printed with a length of 35 mm). This unprecedented value for a 2PP 3D printable material allows it to be used wherever higher temperatures prevail and maximum precision is required. Components for the electrical industry, for example, are one of the possible areas of application for the material.
The prerequisite for this innovation was the hot lithography technology developed and patented by Cubicure GmbH. This allows the processing of highly viscous materials in precision 3D printing and thus creates components with unimagined material quality.
“Hot Lithography opens up a wider process window – also for light-polymerizing micro 3D printing. With our technology, polymers can be tailored to their application purpose and high-temperature-resistant components can also be produced. That was the basis of our collaboration with UpNano“, Dr. Robert Gmeiner, CEO of Cubicure states.
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