The world today seems consumed with fears about Artificial Intelligence, otherwise known as AI. Writers, journalists, ad copywriters, teachers, and artists are fearful their jobs will be lost to computers but in manufacturing we have been applying a subset of AI to manufacturing for decades with positive results. Like other forms of AI, Machine Learning…
In the ever-evolving realm of microfluidics, the pivot from traditional materials to advanced alternatives is becoming increasingly evident. These “labs-on-a-chip” devices, pivotal in biological research, diagnostics, and drug delivery, owe their efficacy to the careful selection of materials and manufacturing methodologies. Historically, Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) has dominated the microfluidic landscape. Its biocompatibility, flexibility, and innate transparency…
Container Closure Integrity Testing (CCIT) is crucial for ensuring the sterility and safety of packaging in pharmaceutical and other critical industries. Potomac Photonics, a leader in the field, offers rapid turnaround leak testing services to meet this growing demand. By leveraging their expertise in laser drilling and advanced micromachining systems, Potomac Photonics provides precision-calibrated leaks…
Introduction DuPont’s Kapton polyimide is a high-performance polymer known for its exceptional electrical insulation, mechanical strength, and resistance to extreme temperatures and chemicals. As a result, it has become an indispensable material across various industries, including medical, biotech, electronics, aerospace, and automotive. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the diverse applications of Kapton in these…
Microfluidic devices are a type of miniaturized lab-on-a-chip technology that have been gaining popularity in recent years. These tiny devices are used to manipulate and analyze very small quantities of fluids, and they have a wide range of applications in fields such as medicine, chemistry, and biology. One of the key components of microfluidic devices…
Potomac can fabricate fully functional microfluidic devices in many materials such as Cyclo-Olefin Copolymer (COC). Often our customers ask us to treat the material to make if more hydrophilic. COC is a relatively hydrophobic material that can be difficult to wet with water or aqueous solutions. However, there are several methods that can be used…
Every day, disruptive technologies allow humans to enter a new world that brings innovations to life. Whether battling climate change by reducing the amount of fossil fuel burning, helping autonomous vehicles navigate roads, guiding man to Mars, or cleaning up toxic waste, technology innovations are the key to solving our world’s problem’s – today and…
We are asked often what exactly is Digital Fabrication? Digital Fabrication, also known as direct manufacturing or on-demand manufacturing, has been around since 1952 when engineering researchers at MIT wired a computer to a milling machine to create the first Computer Numerical Control or CNC machine. The computer essentially became the “brains” of the machining…
Theranos has been a nightmare for legitimate medical diagnostics researchers and startups because Lab On a Chip technology was at the center of the failed blood testing startup. Once Silicon Valley and Wall Street darlings, Theranos made headlines not just because the company was forced to shut down but because founder Elizabeth Holmes was convicted…
Living in a time when there is so much chaos, division, and animosity, it is sometimes hard to remember how much we have to be thankful for this Thanksgiving Day. Today, new technologies are disrupting healthcare, space exploration, and climate change at an exponential pace, bringing with them a brighter future for our people and…
