Fabrication of Elastomer Microfluidic Devices using Additive Manufacturing Methods
Abstract
Fabrication of a microfluidic ELISA assay can be a very time-consuming method, due to the curing process required for molded parts. This thesis examines Fused Deposition Modeling and Stereolithography as candidates for rapid prototyping microfluidic devices. Individual components of the device were designed on SolidWorks, and underwent several generations of revisions to address problems of air and fluid leakage. We present an automated ELISA assay device created using a combination of Fused Deposition Modeling and Stereolithography as a comprehensive demonstration of additive manufacturing capabilities, as well as the methodology used to create such a device. A detailed explanation on how to troubleshoot the fabrication process and machines is also discussed.