microArch, Boston Micro Fabrication’s micro 3D printing technology

Boston Micro Fabrication (BMF) is a young manufacturer of micro 3D printing solutions that, after successfully expanding in Asia over the past 18 months, is officially launching its microArch technology worldwide. This technology would be capable of 3D printing of polymer and composite micro parts with an accuracy of 2 microns and a tolerance of 10 microns. The manufacturer says it can match the quality of high-resolution injection moulding and CNC processing.

While many players are interested in large-format additive manufacturing to produce large parts and free themselves from assembly steps, some are more interested in micro 3D printing, offering solutions for designing very small parts. These include players such as MicroLight3D, which has developed a sub-micron-scale 3D printing platform, and the startup Nanofabrica. The challenge for these manufacturers is to offer a means of manufacturing micro and even nano parts with the highest precision and resolution, which is particularly interesting for sectors such as the medical and electronics industries.

The P140 machine offers a print resolution of 10 microns

BMF first became interested in the Asian market, selling more than 40 solutions to various industries. The company’s CEO, John Kawola, explains: “When it comes to additive manufacturing, the next frontier of innovation is not large parts but small, high-precision parts. We are seeing a convergence of major trends as the boundaries between additive manufacturing and miniaturization begin to dissolve. There is no doubt that additive manufacturing is beginning to lose its appeal as parts become smaller. The challenges of precision and accuracy have hampered innovation for engineers and manufacturers seeking to develop small, high-resolution parts. All that is about to change with the introduction of microArch.”