Prototype Development & Demonstration Laboratory
Equipment Available
The following equipment is available for use:
Direct Write Rapid Prototyping: One of the most useful and versatile pieces of equipment has been installed. This is a rapid-prototype direct-write machine (3Dn 450HP/nScrypt, Inc.) capable of dispensing a wide range of materials (1 to 1,000,000 cP), including ceramic/metallic inks and pastes, polymers, and biomaterials. The machine is capable of picoliter volume control and can print fine line widths (below 10 microns) or raster larger patterns from CAD files. Conformal printing and 3D structures are also within the reach of this cutting-edge machine. The nScrypt machine is one of the most advanced direct-write system in the world. This machine has been performance tested.
Screen Printer: Once the material properties and design of a given device are investigated using the rapid-prototype machine, low-volume production can be realized using a fully automatic screen-printer (Horizon 03i/DEK Int’l.). This industrial machine aligns fiducial marks on the screen and substrate with the use of two high-contrast cameras to ensure accurate and repeatable deposition for multilayer devices. All processing variables (e.g., squeegee speed and pressure) are monitored and dynamically adjusted to ensure identical fabrication from batch to batch.
Fully automatic screen-printer capable of loading/unloading a substrate, aligning a screen to it, and using feedback loops to ensure uniform squeegee speed and pressure as the machine pushes to-be-deposited materials through the mesh and onto the substrate.
Tape Caster: The Laboratory also houses a tape caster (Lab Cast Series/Pro-Cast Products, Inc.), which can make thin substrates for use in multilayer solid-state ionic devices, electronics and other applications. A dedicated synthesis area and high-temperature furnaces offer the ability for pre- and post-processing of materials.
Tape caster used in making thin substrates from ceramic slurries. The air going into the machine and the surface in contact with substrate are heated to dry tape prior to additional processing.
Wire Bonder: This three-way convertible wire bonder capable of making ball, wedge, and deep-access bonds of common (e.g., gold) and uncommon (e.g., platinum). The machine is semi-automatic, allowing the programming of bond loops and parameters for reliable and repeatable wire bonds.
Fuel Cell Test Set-up: Two test set ups have been completed for testing fuel cell performance. The necessary gas lines have been installed. Facilities for simultaneous impedance and standard electrochemical measurements have been established, with multi channel recorders.
Additional Test Equipment: A Potentiostat & FRA, a multi-channel gas analyzer, a sensor test system, Pyknometer and a Viscometer have all been purchased, assembled and installed. They are all functional.
Furnaces: Two low temperature box furnaces capable of heating up to 1300C and two high temperature furnaces capable of going up to 1700c have been purchased and installed. All the furnaces are functional. A hot universal laminating press has been purchased and installed. Four tube furnaces have been purchased and installed.
In addition, general ceramic fabrication facilities are also available, including an automatic polisher which has been purchased and installed.
