Revolutionizing Discoveries with 3D Printed Vacuum Pumps.
MIT researchers have used 3D printing to create a miniaturized peristaltic vacuum pump that could be a key component of a portable mass spectrometer. The pump, which is about the size of a human fist, can create and maintain a vacuum that has an order of magnitude lower pressure than a dry, rough pump, which doesn’t require liquid to create a vacuum and can operate at atmospheric pressure. The researchers’ unique design, which can be printed in one pass on a multimaterial 3D printer, prevents fluid or gas from leaking while minimizing heat from friction during the pumping process. This increases the lifetime of the device, making it ideal for use in remote areas or on Mars.