Printing orientation influences fluidic behaviour in channels made by fused deposition molding

© 17CBMS-0001. 3D printing is gaining popularity as a microfabrication approach. The different surface topography obtained compared with traditionally fabricated microfluidic devices is expected to influence fluidic behaviour. Here, the fluidic behaviour of microchannels created by fused deposition molding (FDM) is studied as function of the orientation of the extruded filament relative to the flow direction, extruding at 0°, 30°, 60° and 90° of the direction of the flow, with most mixing observed at 60°. When printing the top and bottom channel surfaces in opposing orientation, a cork-screw flow could be induced, an outcome that was confirmed by CFD.