Invisible Precision Shapes the Audible Future: BMF’s Micro/Nano 3D Printing Technology Reshapes Acoustic Device Manufacturing

Source: BMF PRECISION TECH

Acoustic devices have evolved far beyond traditional speakers and microphones into intelligent systems integrating sensing, modulation, and actuation functions. In medicine, acoustic metasurfaces control sound-wave phase for targeted tumor treatment. In industry, MEMS acoustic sensors monitor equipment fault frequencies in real time. In consumer electronics, miniature noise-canceling microphone arrays are now standard in high-end headphones. The common thread is precision manufacturing, which enables higher resolution, greater throughput, and enhanced design flexibility.

Micro/nano 3D printing technology offers high precision and multi-material compatibility, effectively overcoming the challenge of monolithic fabrication for complex acoustic structures. This makes it a crucial tool for advancing acoustic research beyond conventional manufacturing limits and overcoming technical bottlenecks.

Acoustic Spatial Differentiator

Professor Liu Xiaojun and Professor Cheng Ying’s team at the Acoustics Research Institute, School of Physics, Nanjing University, developed an acoustic orbital angular momentum–based spatial differentiator that efficiently extracts edge information from various objects, significantly enhancing ultrasound imaging contrast.

The team used BMF’s projection micro-stereolithography (PμSL) technology (microArch® S240, 10 μm resolution) to fabricate resin components with helical distributions. Stainless steel sheets (200 μm thick) were inserted between resin layers to create phase gratings. This edge-enhancing ultrasound imaging approach improves image contrast without the need for contrast agents or external fields, advancing biomedical imaging and non-destructive testing.

Acoustic Virtual 3D Scaffold

Professor Chen Xiang and Professor Chen Zeyu at Central South University, together with Professor Fei Chunlong at Xidian University, used acoustic virtual 3D scaffold (AV-Scaf) technology to enable matrix-free tumor organoid culture, further developing a co-culture system for tumor organoids and T cells. Focused acoustic vortices generated by ultrasound transducers and lenses aggregated tumor cells precisely in the focal plane.

For system design, researchers used BMF’s nanoArch® S140 (10 μm resolution) to print the supporting structures of the culture chambers. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis showed that ultrasound stimulation significantly increased calcium ion influx, accelerating intercellular interactions within the clusters. This work opens new avenues for high-throughput screening and personalized medical applications.

DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adr4831

Embedded Microbubble Acoustic Metasurface

Professor Wang Guanghui’s team at the School of Modern Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, developed a 3D-printed embedded microbubble acoustic metasurface that achieves breakthrough selective control over acoustic frequencies.

This metasurface was fabricated using the BMF microArch® S240 (10 μm resolution) 3D printing system, which enables precise control over micropore diameters and heights for diverse geometries, offering exceptional design flexibility for frequency-selective applications. By tuning array coupling structures and excitation frequencies, this platform delivers precise, multimodal sample processing, opening new possibilities for complex biomedical and pharmaceutical screening tasks.

DOI: doi.org/10.1039/D4LC00890A

The core value of precision manufacturing lies in redefining the boundaries of macro-scale perception through microscopic breakthroughs. As acoustic devices evolve from basic functional carriers to precision-controlled media, BMF’s PμSL technology is helping transform research outcomes into practical solutions, building high-dimensional systems for advanced sound-wave manipulation. In the future, as acoustic devices grow increasingly intelligent, BMF remains committed to pushing every micron-level precision frontier, expanding humanity’s understanding of the acoustic universe.