Micro-scale metal AM process produces ‘ant-sized’ copy of iconic sculpture

March 25, 2019

News
March 25, 2019
Micro-scale metal AM process produces 'ant-sized' copy of iconic sculpture

The micro-scaled copy of Michelangelo’s David was produced in copper on Cytosurge’s FluidFM µ3Dprinter (Courtesy Cytosurge AG)

 

Cytosurge AG, Glattbrugg, Switzerland, has demonstrated the capabilities of its FluidFM® µ3Dprinter by producing a microscopic metal additively manufactured copy of Michelangelo’s David sculpture. Over the last two years, Cytosurge has been developing the FluidFM µ3Dprinter’s hardware and Additive Manufacturing process to enable it to build metal objects from the size of bacteria to ants.

The micro-scale David was produced in pure copper and stands at just over 700 µm tall, weighing 10 µg. While the original sculpture took four years to carve out of solid marble in the early 1500s, this micro-scale demonstrator part reportedly took just under twelve hours to build and has a hollow structure.

Dr Giorgio Ercolano, R&D Process Engineer Additive Manufacturing at Cytosurge AG, stated, “It is more than just a copy and downsized model of Michelangelo’s David. Our deep understanding of the printing process has led to a new way of processing the 3D computer model of the statue and then converting it into machine code. That’s what makes the new David statue so extraordinary.”

“This object has been sliced from an open-source CAD file and afterwards was sent directly to the printer,” he stated. “This slicing method enables an entirely new way to print designs with the FluidFM µ3Dprinter.” The David is reported to be the largest object created by using Cytosurge’s FluidFM technology.

The FluidFM μ3Dprinter is a standalone system capable of additively manufacturing complex pure metal objects at the nanometer to micrometer scale with reportedly pinpoint accuracy, aligned on existing objects or surfaces. The amount of metal deposited during a build ranges from 1 μm3 to 6’000’000 µm3 per structure, a range that Cytosurge stated is unobtainable by most other techniques.

Originally invented at ETH Zurich, FluidFM AM technology uses a tiny pipette with a 300-nm-wide opening for local electrodeposition of metals, in this case copper. The hollow FluidFM nanopipette is brought into proximity (~1 µm) with a conductive surface and a metal ion-containing liquid is dispensed.

A negative potential applied to the surface reduces the delivered metal ions to solid atoms, which deposit just below the pipette opening. Once the gap between surface and pipette is filled with the solid copper atoms, the pipette moves to the next position, repeating the deposition and like this, a three-dimensional structure is created.

News
March 25, 2019

In the latest issue of Metal AM magazine

Download PDF
 

Extensive AM industry news coverage, as well as the following exclusive deep-dive articles:

  • LEAP 71: Why engineering must move beyond CAD to realise the promise of AI and Additive Manufacturing
  • Additive Manufacturing and European defence: a critical opportunity as the US and China accelerate ahead
  • A market analyst’s view: Europe’s opportunity as defence AM surges in the US and China
  • From Fixed Processes to flight parts: How REM’s advanced surface finishing supports NASA JPL’s AM innovations
  • The future of large metal parts: WAAMathon #2 showcases developments in Wire Arc Directed Energy Deposition
  • Wire Electron Beam Directed Energy Deposition (DED): Advancing productivity and sustainability in metal AM
  • Building trust in AM: How Qualified AM GmbH is enabling regulated production at scale

TRUSTED CONTENT. TARGETED AUDIENCE

Advertise with Metal AM and access a global base of 50,000+ AM professionals.

Contact Jon Craxford: [email protected]

  • AM machines
  • Process monitoring & calibration
  • Heat treatment & sintering
  • HIP systems & services
  • Pre- & post-processing technology
  • Powders, powder production and analysis
  • Part manufacturers
  • Consulting, training & market data

Don’t miss a thing – register for our newsletter

Don't miss any new issue of Metal AM magazine, and get the latest industry news. Sign up to our twice weekly newsletter.

Register now

Join 40,000+ other AM professionals – follow us online

About Metal Additive Manufacturing magazine

Metal AM magazine, published quarterly in digital and print formats, is read by a rapidly expanding international audience.

Our audience includes component manufacturers, end-users, materials and equipment suppliers, analysts, researchers and more.

In addition to providing extensive industry news coverage, Metal AM magazine is known for exclusive, in-depth articles and technical reports.

Our focus is the entire metal AM process from design to application.

Each issue is available as an easy-to-navigate digital edition and a high-quality print publication.

Discover our magazine archive…

The free to access Metal Additive Manufacturing magazine archive offers unparalleled insight into the world of metal Additive Manufacturing from a commercial and technological perspective through:

  • Reports on visits to leading metal AM part manufacturers and industry suppliers
  • Articles on technology and application trends
  • Information on materials developments
  • Reviews of key technical presentations from the international conference circuit
  • International industry news

All past issues are available to download as free PDFs or view in your browser.

Browse the archive

Share via
Copy link
Powered by Social Snap