3D Printed Micrometer-Scale Polymer Mounts for Single Crystal Analysis

3D
printed micrometer-scale polymer mounts for single crystal analysis
have been prepared by photopolymerization using digital light projection
stereolithography (DLP-SLA), with a commercially available digital
light projection stereolithography printer (US$4000) and 3DM-ABS resin
(US$150 per liter). The polymer mounts were prepared in batches of
49 in 1 h 15 min, which allowed for rapid prototyping and testing
of new crystal mounting designs, with a resin cost of 0.2¢ US
per mount. The suitability of the 3D printed mounts for single crystal
crystallography has been demonstrated through their use in Cu Kα
X-ray diffraction experiments of Rochelle salt (sodium potassium tartrate),
the protein lysozyme, and has been employed for routine crystallographic
analysis of organic and inorganic materials.