SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FORMING MONOLITHIC ELECTRON MICROSCOPE COMPONENTS
A method of forming a monolithic electron optics component includes providing a dual-nozzle printing head having first and second printing nozzles, heating the dual-nozzle printing head to a desired temperature so that both the first nozzle and the second nozzle are heated to substantially the same, desired temperature, extruding a non-conductive filament material through the first nozzle, and withdrawing a conductive filament material through the second nozzle to form a device component. The desired temperature is typically above a melting temperature of the conductive filament material, above the melting temperature of the non-conducting filament material and lower than the temperature at which the printed device component or object sags under its own weight after printing and bleeding of the non-conducting filament material over the conducting filament material occurs.
1 . A method of forming a monolithic electron optics component, the method comprising:
providing a dual-nozzle printing head having first and second printing nozzles;
heating the dual-nozzle printing head to a desired temperature so that both the first nozzle and the second nozzle are heated to the desired temperature;
extruding a non-conductive filament material through the first nozzle; and
withdrawing a conductive filament material through the second nozzle,
wherein the desired temperature is above a melting temperature of the conductive filament material, above the melting temperature of the non-conducting filament material and lower than the temperature at which the printed object sags under its own weight after printing and bleeding of the non-conducting filament material over the conducting filament material occurs.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the non-conductive filament material and the conductive filament material each comprise a Polylactic Acid (PLA).
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first nozzle has a dimension of about 1.5 mm, and wherein the second nozzle has a dimension of about 1.2 mm.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising cooling the extruded filament material and withdrawn material.
5 . A monolithic electron optics component, for use in an electron microscope, formed according to the method of claim 1 .
6 . A monolithic electron optics component according to claim 5 , wherein the component is an electrostatic quadrupole lens element.
7 . A monolithic electron optics component according to claim 5 , wherein the component is an electron beam deflector element.
8 . A non-transitory, computer-readable medium having instructions thereon which, upon execution by one or more processors, alone or in combination, provide for execution of a method of forming a monolithic electron optics component by controlling a 3-D printer having a dual-nozzle printing head including a first printing nozzle and a second printing nozzle, the method comprising:
heating the dual-nozzle printing head to a desired temperature so that both the first nozzle and the second nozzle are heated to the desired temperature;
extruding a non-conductive filament material through the first nozzle; and
withdrawing a conductive filament material through the second nozzle,
wherein the desired temperature is above a melting temperature of the conductive filament material, above the melting temperature of the non-conducting filament material and lower than the temperature at which the printed object sags under its own weight after printing and bleeding of the non-conducting filament material over the conducting filament material occurs.
9 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the non-conductive filament material and the conductive filament material each comprise a Polylactic Acid (PLA).
10 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the first nozzle has a dimension of about 1.5 mm, and wherein the second nozzle has a dimension of about 1.2 mm.
11 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 1 , further comprising instructions for cooling the extruded filament material and withdrawn material.