Abstract
Recently, the polymeric micro-fluidic biochip, often called LOC (lab-on-a-chip), has been focused as a cheap, rapid and simplified method to replace the existing biochemical laboratory works. It becomes possible to form miniaturized lab functionalities on a chip with the development of MEMS technologies. The micro-fluidic chips contain many micro-channels for the flow of sample and reagents, mixing, and detection tasks. Typical substrate materials for the chip are glass and polymers. Typical techniques for micro-fluidic chip fabrication are utilizing various micro pattern forming methods, such as wet-etching, micro-contact printing, and hot-embossing, micro injection molding, LIGA, and micro powder blasting processes, etc. In this study, to establish the basis of the micro pattern fabrication and mass production of polymeric micro-fluidic chips using injection molding process, micro machining method was applied to form micro-channels on the LOC molds. In the research, a series of machining experiments using micro end-mills were performed to determine optimum machining conditions to improve surface roughness and shape accuracy of designed simplified micro-channels. Obtained conditions were used to machine required mold inserts for micro-channels using micro end-mills. Test injection processes using machined molds and COC polymer were performed, and then the results were investigated.
Highlights
IntroductionWith the development of MEMS (micro electro-mechanical system) technologies, conventional biotechnological analytical processes can be rapidly performed using miniaturized biochips
With the development of MEMS technologies, conventional biotechnological analytical processes can be rapidly performed using miniaturized biochips
Injection mold inserts for micro-channel forming on the biochip were manufactured using micro end-mills
Summary
With the development of MEMS (micro electro-mechanical system) technologies, conventional biotechnological analytical processes can be rapidly performed using miniaturized biochips. Various material properties such as mechanical strength, porosity, and hydrophobicity, etc., are required for real application Fabrication procedures of such substrate depend on the used material and complexity of the chip. Typical technique for micro-fluidic chip fabrication is based on the soft lithography, such as wet-etching, micro-contact printing, and hotembossing, micro injection molding, etc.[2,3,4,5] LIGA and micro powder blasting processes are applied to form required micro-channels on the biochips.[7] Several studies were performed to replicate microchips using metal mold masters which were prepared by CNC micro-milling processes. Obtained conditions were used to machine required mold inserts for micro-channels using micro end-mills of 400μm diameter. Test injection processes using machined molds and COC polymer were performed, and the results were investigated. It can be observed that the required micro-fluidic chips can be obtained using injection molding process
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