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The precision of a measurement depends on the quality of the components installed in the measuring system. Particularly in research and quality control, care should therefore be taken to ensure that the systems used have sufficient measurement accuracy. If this is not the case, research results lose their significance and there are increased fluctuations in product quality.
In the present case, a crucible assembly made of aluminum oxide was developed and manufactured for a customer in the field of laboratory analysis, which enables high-precision absorption measurements in the range of the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) is made possible. The assembly consists of the crucible itself, a lid and a suspension. Two suspension lengths are available for different oven types. The crucible holds up to 25g of sample material.
In addition to the crucible, a non-contact magnetic suspension coupling ensures that mass changes within the measuring cell are precisely determined. The load decoupling makes it possible to tare or calibrate the measurement signal in the zero point position for long-term, drift-compensated measurements. With this setup, measurements with an accuracy of up to 1µg are possible at temperatures of up to 1500 degrees Celsius and under pressures of up to 50 bar.
But why was this item made from ceramic and 3D printed?
The strengths of ceramics in laboratory analysis
Ceramic components are of particular importance in laboratory analysis, especially in applications that require high temperatures and take place in chemically aggressive environments. Both are the case with gravimetric analyses. In addition, the ceramic is chemically inert and therefore prevents any reactions with other substances, even under extreme conditions. This is crucial to ensure accurate measurements and analyses, as chemical reactions could falsify measurement results.
Why 3D printing?
Due to their simple geometry, standard crucibles are often pressed directly or produced using CNC milling. 3D printing becomes relevant when the design freedom gained allows complex geometries to be produced with significantly improved performance.
The production of this crucible using 3D printing offers a number of advantages over conventional production using CNC milling:
- 3D printing is ideal for the complex design, which includes an inner bore for the suspension, micro-holes on the underside of the crucible and very thin wall thicknesses
- Some parts of the assembly are simply inaccessible for press or CNC production. Although it would be possible to adapt the design, this would be at the expense of functionality
- These are custom-made products with small quantities. A set-up for presses or CNC milling is both more complex and involves higher costs for small quantities.
delivery times. This is where 3D printing scores with its flexibility
On our homepage under www.hilgenberg-ceramics.de/news/ we regularly present applications that demonstrate the many advantages of the process in prototype and small series production. If you are interested, you can contact us at any time by e-mail or telephone. Challenge us!
