Open source slot die

youmagine

L.Y. Beeker, Adam M. Pringle, and Joshua M. Pearce Design an Open-source Parametric 3-D Printed Slot Die System for Thin Film Semiconductor Processing. Published in Additive Manufacturing, Volume 20 (2018), Pages 90-100. DOI: 10.1016/j.addma.2017.12.004. Available online at Academia.edu. The Franklin firmware and OpenSCAD software are utilized to design the system. Additionally, an open-source syringe pump is integrated into the setup. The Prusa conversion process is similar to that of the Open-source Wax RepRap 3-D Printer for Rapid Prototyping Paper-Based Microfluidics. A new x-carriage is provided in this study, available on OSF.io. Slot die coating has gained popularity due to its low operational cost and scalability for depositing thin films rapidly while minimizing material waste. However, conventional slot dies are expensive to machine, limiting accessibility and experimentation. To overcome these limitations, this study adopts an open hardware approach using an open-source 3-D printer to fabricate the slot die and functionalize a 3-D printing system. Polymer materials are tested for compatibility with common solvents and used to create a custom slot die head. The custom slot die is then integrated into a 3-D printer augmented with a syringe pump, forming an additive manufacturing platform for thin film semiconductor devices. The full design of the slot die system is disclosed using an open-source license, including software and operational protocols. This study demonstrates that functional lab-grade slot dies can be 3-D printed using low-cost open-source hardware methods. A case study using NiO2 found an RMS value of 0.486 nm, a thickness of 17-49 nm, and a maximum optical transmission of 99.1%, showcasing the capability of this additive manufacturing approach to produce viable layers of advanced electronic materials. A significant cost savings of over 17,000% is achieved compared to commercial slot die systems for laboratories.