MIT Researchers 3D Print Miniaturized Mass Filter for Portable Mass Spectrometer

The 3D-printed device, known as a quadrupole, is lightweight, cost-effective, and as precise as commercial-grade mass filters, marking a significant step towards a fully 3D-printed, portable mass spectrometer.

• MIT researchers have successfully 3D printed a miniaturized mass filter, a core component of a mass spectrometer, using a durable and heat-resistant glass-ceramic resin.
• The 3D-printed device, known as a quadrupole, can be fabricated in a matter of hours for a few dollars, compared to commercial-grade mass filters that can cost over $100,000 and take weeks to manufacture.
• The quadrupole is lightweight, cheap, and as precise as some commercial-grade mass filters, making it a significant step towards a 3D-printed, portable mass spectrometer.
• The researchers' vision is to create a mass spectrometer where all key components can be 3D printed, resulting in a device with much less weight and cost without sacrificing performance.
• Potential applications of a portable mass spectrometer include rapid analysis of potential pollutants in remote areas and monitoring chemicals in Earth's atmosphere or on distant planets.

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