Miniature 3D-Printed Centrifugal Pump with Non-Contact Electromagnetic Actuation

We present a miniature 3D-printed dynamic pump using the centrifugal operating principle. Dynamic pumps typically yield higher flow rates than displacement pumps at reasonable output pressure. Realizing smaller devices suitable for millifluidic and microfluidic applications brings challenges in terms of design, fabrication and actuation. By using microstereolithography printing we have reduced the overall size to an effective pumping volume of 2.58 mL. The free-moving rotor consists of an impeller and permanent magnets embedded during the printing process, which allow for non-contact electromagnetic actuation. The pump is driven by periodically switching the current through stator coils, controlled by a custom built circuit using a Hall effect sensor. It achieves a maximum flow rate of 124 mL/min and a hydrostatic pressure of up to 2400 Pa.