Researchers at Leiden University used 3D to print the smallest boat in the world: a 30-micron copy of Benchy the tug boat, which is a famous 3D printer test object. This ship is so small that it may float inside human hair.
3D printed boats are part of the exploration of microscopic swimmers, microscopic organic matter, or objects that can move through liquids. Natural examples of microswimmers are bacteria and sperm. This little Benchy uses a little platinum that reacts with hydrogen peroxide to propel itself.
The most interesting thing is how they can print the cockpit of a boat, which is an open space that requires a lot of geometric skills to build.
Screenshot: CreativeTools (Other)
“Because the print is taking place inside the droplet, and we are printing layer by layer, we can maintain the open space,” she said.
She said: “Because printing is done inside the droplet and we are printing layer by layer, we can keep open space.”
Why do they print a small swimming boat? Because it’s fun!
“3D Benchy is a structure that has been designed to test macroscopic 3D printers because it has several challenging features, and it was natural to also try it at the micrometer scale,” said Kraft. “In addition, making a swimming micrometer-sized boat is fun.”
Their research paper is titled “Catalyzed 3D printed colloidal microswimmers” and published in the journal Soft Matter.