Laser Ablation for Microfluidics

Overview

For my freshman year research project, I worked with a graduate student designing a laser ablation system to cut chips for use in microfluidics, specifically to serve as tissue-on-chip platforms for biological experiments. Through this research, I designed and machined a gas spring system to safely open and close the laser hood, assembled a fume extraction system, and programmed the first version of the galvo system controls for the cutting.

I programmed an optimizer that took the attachment points and gas spring parameters as inputs and output the force required to open the hood at each angle throughout its opening arc. Using this, I selected a gas spring that limited the opening force to 70 N and would self-actuate after around 45 degrees. I also designed hard stops that mounted on the box and constrained the motion of the hood.

I cut aluminum rods and machined connections for the rods to the gas springs and hard stops using a manual mill. I successfully assembled these components and produced a fully functional gas spring supported laser hood.