Custom Microfluidic Chip Fabrication Service
Custom microfluidic chip fabrication service offering design consultation and manufacturing across six material platforms with features down to 10-25 micrometers. Reusable chip — designed for multiple experimental runs. Compatible with standard mi...
| Materials Available | Glass, PDMS, PMMA, Silicon, Quartz, COC |
| CNC Min Feature | 150 um |
| Glass Etch Min Line Width | 10-25 um |
| Fabrication Methods | CNC, wet etching, soft lithography, injection molding, laser etching |
| Service Type | Custom design + fabrication |
| Automation Level | manual |
Custom Microfluidic Chip Fabrication Service provides researchers with application-specific microfluidic devices designed and manufactured to exact specifications. This comprehensive service encompasses complete design consultation, prototyping, and production using multiple fabrication methods including CNC machining, wet etching, soft lithography, injection molding, and laser etching across six material platforms: glass, PDMS, PMMA, silicon, quartz, and COC.
Fabrication capabilities include CNC features down to 150 micrometers and glass etching with minimum line widths of 10-25 micrometers, enabling precise control over channel dimensions, surface properties, and fluidic architectures. Each project includes design optimization for the intended application, material selection based on chemical compatibility and optical requirements, and comprehensive quality documentation including dimensional verification and surface characterization.
How It Works
Microfluidic chip fabrication involves creating precise microscale channel networks through material-specific manufacturing processes. CNC machining removes material through controlled cutting operations to achieve 150 micrometer minimum features, while wet etching uses chemical solutions to selectively dissolve substrate materials for creating glass channels with 10-25 micrometer line widths. Soft lithography employs elastomeric molding to replicate master patterns in PDMS, enabling rapid prototyping of complex channel geometries.
The fabrication process begins with design optimization based on intended fluid dynamics, chemical compatibility requirements, and optical properties needed for the specific application. Material selection considers factors such as surface chemistry, thermal properties, and transparency requirements. Quality documentation includes dimensional metrology and surface characterization to verify channel dimensions, surface roughness, and geometric tolerances meet design specifications.
Features & Benefits
Materials Available
- Glass, PDMS, PMMA, Silicon, Quartz, COC
CNC Min Feature
- 150 um
Glass Etch Min Line Width
- 10-25 um
Fabrication Methods
- CNC, wet etching, soft lithography, injection molding, laser etching
Service Type
- Custom design + fabrication
Automation Level
- manual
Brand
- ConductScience
Research Domain
- Analytical Chemistry
- Cancer Research
- Cell Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Materials Science
- Microbiology
- Pharmaceutical QC
Weight
- 2.0 kg
Dimensions
- L: 154.1 mm
- W: 115.6 mm
- H: 77.0 mm
Comparison Guide
| Feature | This Product | Typical Alternative | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Material Platform Options | Six materials: glass, PDMS, PMMA, silicon, quartz, and COC | Standard services often focus on 1-2 materials, commonly PDMS or glass only | Enables optimal material selection for chemical compatibility, optical requirements, and experimental conditions. |
| Fabrication Methods Available | Five methods: CNC, wet etching, soft lithography, injection molding, laser etching | Most services specialize in one primary method with limited alternatives | Allows selection of optimal manufacturing approach for each design based on resolution, volume, and cost requirements. |
| Glass Etching Resolution | 10-25 micrometer minimum line widths | Entry-level services often achieve 50-100 micrometer features | Enables subcellular feature dimensions for single-cell applications and precise fluid control. |
| CNC Feature Resolution | 150 micrometer minimum features | Standard CNC services typically offer 200-500 micrometer minimum features | Provides better dimensional control for complex channel networks and improved surface finish quality. |
| Design Support Level | Complete design consultation with application-specific optimization | Basic services often require researcher-provided designs with limited consultation | Optimizes chip architecture for intended experimental protocols and equipment integration requirements. |
| Quality Documentation | Comprehensive reports including dimensional verification and surface characterization | Basic services may provide limited or no quality documentation | Supports experimental reproducibility requirements and provides verification of manufacturing specifications. |
This service combines multiple fabrication methods across six material platforms with high-resolution capabilities including 10-25 micrometer glass etching and 150 micrometer CNC features. Complete design consultation and comprehensive quality documentation support application-specific optimization and experimental reproducibility requirements.
Practical Tips
Provide detailed fluid properties including viscosity, surface tension, and chemical composition during design consultation to optimize channel dimensions and surface treatments.
Why: Fluid properties directly affect flow behavior, mixing characteristics, and required channel geometries for successful device operation.
Consider your imaging system's working distance and objective lens requirements when specifying chip thickness and mounting features.
Why: Chip geometry must accommodate microscopy setup constraints for proper optical access and imaging quality.
Store chips in clean, dry containers with appropriate cushioning to prevent mechanical damage and contamination.
Why: Microfluidic channels are sensitive to particulate contamination and physical damage that can affect flow characteristics.
Request multiple prototype units for parallel testing and protocol optimization before committing to large production runs.
Why: Initial testing may reveal opportunities for design refinement or identify optimal operating conditions.
Use appropriate surface treatments and priming protocols to ensure proper wetting and eliminate air bubbles in hydrophobic channels.
Why: Air bubbles can disrupt flow patterns and affect experimental results in microfluidic applications.
Maintain detailed records of chip lot numbers, storage conditions, and usage history to correlate with experimental results.
Why: Batch-to-batch variations and storage conditions can influence chip performance and experimental reproducibility.
Follow appropriate chemical handling procedures when using chips with biological samples or hazardous reagents, particularly with porous materials like PDMS.
Why: Some materials may absorb chemicals or require specific cleaning protocols to prevent cross-contamination.
Specify connection methods and port designs compatible with your existing pumping and fluid handling equipment during design phase.
Why: Proper fluidic connections are essential for reliable operation and prevent leakage or pressure loss issues.
Setup Guide
What’s in the Box
- Custom fabricated microfluidic chips (quantity per project specifications)
- Dimensional verification report
- Surface characterization documentation
- Material compatibility data sheet
- Handling and storage instructions
- Quality certificate
Warranty
ConductScience provides design consultation warranty covering fabrication defects and dimensional non-conformance for 30 days from delivery, with technical support for implementation guidance and troubleshooting.
Compliance
References
Background reading relevant to this product:
What factors should I consider when selecting material platform for my application?
Consider chemical compatibility with your fluids, optical transparency requirements for imaging, thermal stability for temperature-controlled experiments, and surface properties for cell adhesion or protein adsorption. Glass and quartz offer excellent optical clarity and chemical resistance, PDMS provides flexibility and gas permeability, while PMMA and COC offer good optical properties with easier manufacturing.
How do minimum feature sizes affect experimental design possibilities?
Glass etching down to 10-25 micrometers enables single-cell trapping and subcellular feature control, while 150 micrometer CNC features support higher flow rate applications and easier fluidic connections. Consider your required flow rates, mixing requirements, and cell/particle sizes when specifying channel dimensions.
What documentation is provided for experimental reproducibility?
Each project includes dimensional verification reports with measured channel widths, depths, and surface roughness data, plus surface characterization documentation showing material properties and quality certificates verifying manufacturing tolerances were met.
How should I specify surface treatments or modifications?
Discuss surface chemistry requirements during design consultation, including hydrophobic/hydrophilic treatments, protein coating compatibility, or cell adhesion promoters. Surface treatments can be integrated during fabrication or specified for post-processing application.
What are typical lead times for prototype and production runs?
Consult with design team for project-specific timelines, as lead times depend on design complexity, material selection, and fabrication method. Simple PDMS prototypes typically have shorter lead times than glass etching or injection molding tooling.
How do I ensure fluidic connection compatibility with existing equipment?
Specify your existing pump systems, tubing dimensions, and connection methods during design consultation. Standard Luer connections, press-fit ports, or custom connection schemes can be integrated into the chip design.
What quality control measures are implemented during fabrication?
Each chip undergoes dimensional verification using precision metrology equipment, surface characterization for roughness and defect assessment, and functional testing when applicable. Quality documentation includes measurement data and certificates of conformance.
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