By combining soft lithography with 3D printing, researchers gain access to rapid prototyping capabilities and the ability to create highly customized, intricate three-dimensional microfluidic devices. This integration opens doors to innovative applications across various scientific disciplines and industries, bringing us one step closer to more accessible and tailored microfluidic solutions at a fraction of the cost of traditional methods.

They detailed some other tidbits about the overhauled model: it would come with 3GB RAM, and it won’t have an aluminum unibody, but instead will have a “composite glass to allow wireless charging,” with a rear panel. They also noted that the new iPhone will be “water resistant” (a feature already shared by the iPhone 7), and that they won’t use USB-C.

In a thread on Reddit, three alleged Foxconn employees have posted information about some of Apple’s upcoming products, such as the iPhone 7S and iPhone 8, the rumored Siri Speaker, smart glasses, and more, just days before the company is set to start WWDC on Monday.

Soft lithography starts with the creation of a master mold, oftentimes using photolithography. This master mold contains a negative relief of the desired microfluidic features such as channels and chambers. PDMS is then mixed, poured onto the master mold, and cured to create a replica of the master mold. This replica is peeled off the master mold and bonded to a substrate through oxygen plasma treatment or chemical bonding to create a sealed microfluidic device. Its greatest advantage is the ability to produce multiple microfluidics PDMS devices from just one master mold in a short period of time.

The early days of microfluidic research saw photolithography as the go-to technique for creating microstructures and patterns on microfluidic devices. It involved the use of photomasks, cleanroom facilities and intricate chemical processes to create precise patterns on substrates like silicon wafers or glass slides.

The integration of 3D printing into the soft lithography workflow represents the next step in the evolution of microfluidic device fabrication.

The glasses consist of a “Kopin NED Acetate frame, Polarisized or prescription lens with Zeiss smart optics, Bone induction modules Microphones (noise cancellation), Light sensor Accelerometer for step tracking and head movement, app navigation Magnetometer for navigation, Capacitive Pavel Ceramic battery, Apple chipset, [and] Charging circuit BL5 Induction module.” They also reportedly came in crystal, champagne, and black colors.

3D printing enables the rapid prototyping of microfluidic device designs. It allows researchers to quickly iterate and modify their designs by 3D printing new master molds within one working day, reducing the time and costs associated with traditional mold fabrication. Microfluidic devices become highly customizable where researchers can easily create bespoke microstructures and adapt them as needed to meet specific application requirements.

It’s not clear if Mirrorshades will go forward, however. Foxconninsider explained that while they were a “unique design,” there was a 65 percent chance that the entire project would be canceled because the batteries are difficult to produce.

The thread details a number of specific updates and details about Apple’s next line of products, some of which fit with the rumors that have come in recent months. However, it’s worth noting that it’s not clear how accurate all of these leaks will be, given that the users themselves noted that they haven’t seen some of the devices in a while. We’ll find out tomorrow.

One of the more interesting sets of details was about Apple’s rumored augmented reality Glasses. Reports of the devices surfaced last fall, and Apple CEO Tim Cook recently noted that the company has invested in AR.

Soft lithography was developed as an alternative to photolithography, addressing many of its predecessor’s limitations particularly in terms of cost, simplicity and material compatibility. It refers to a group of techniques that use elastomeric materials in the fabrication of microfluidic devices, with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) being the most prevalent. With it, researchers could now prototype and fabricate microfluidic devices more quickly and efficiently.

The insiders noted that they only saw a “transparent reader lens but I understand they can procure polarised or prescription lenses,” that the frames were “Cellulose acetate Injection mold frames into an aluminum mold,” that they came in two sizes (men’s and women’s), and that they had a P3 frame design. There was also the possibility that there would be seasonal design updates. The materials cost for the devices would be around $150, which Foxconninsider noted would likely place the retail price in the $600.

According to Foxconninsider, the project is called Project Mirrorshades (a reference to a 1980s Cyberpunk anthology?), which would be designed to bring AR to a larger audience.

Movement would play some role in the function of the glasses: Foxconninsider noted that for an app like Tinder, a user could shake their head for no, or nod for yes. A “small capacitive strip on” the arm would allow users to accept calls and control the volume, while Siri could also be used to make calls. The device would use a prism that “conveys NED display image to lens,” and would have 428 x 240 resolution.

The user spoke a bit about an previously rumored iPhone 7 refresh: noting that it’ll have an aluminum unibody instead of a glass chassis, and that it won’t have wireless charging.

They also spoke a little about some of the projects that have been canceled over the years, listing several: “IoT devices like fitness band, headphone designs, larger keyboard with backlighting etc.”

They also reported that they saw some “test units with fingerprint scanners mounted below the glass, but performance and yield rates were not good.” They explained that they haven’t seen a rumored rear fingerprint scanner, speculating that it might have been misinformation. The phone will apparently also use facial detection and a retina scanner, which will be “included in the front facing camera modules.”

According to the subreddit’s moderators, the identities of the posters have been verified with proper documentation and evidence, but it’s not clear how trustworthy the information is. AppleInsider notes that there’s some basis to take this information with a grain of salt, and the mods noted that they’re only able to verify that the users in question would have access to this information.

Subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry newsletter to keep up to date with the latest 3D printing news. You can also follow us on Twitter, like our  Facebook page, and subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry Youtube channel to access more exclusive content.Are you interested in working in the additive manufacturing industry? Visit 3D Printing Jobs to view a selection of available roles and kickstart your career.Featured image shows a peeled PDMS device fabricated with CADworks3D’s 3D printed master mold. Photo via CADworks3D.

While photolithography provides high-resolution patterning, it does have notable limitations. Creating a single device requires many steps and several different tools and chemicals. Included in this are specialized equipment and cleanroom facilities, making this technique expensive and inaccessible to many researchers or small-scale applications. Moreover, photolithography is not ideal for producing complex designs or three-dimensional structures. It is a single-layer process and creating multilayer structures or 3D microfluidic systems requires multiple rounds of photolithography, alignment and bonding processes that are time-consuming and prone to alignment errors.

When asked about the keyboards, they noted that they tested “two e-paper technologies; E-ink in black and white and color, other a color Qualcomm display (cancelled due to IP dispute).” They also noted that the keys would be low profile.

The journey of fabricating PDMS devices for microfluidic applications has seen significant advancements over recent years. Moving from traditional techniques like photolithography to more cost-effective alternatives like soft lithography, new research is now exploring the integration of 3D printing and how it can fit into existing device fabrication workflows.Canadian-based 3D printer manufacturer and 3D material developer CADworks3D is a leader in this space. Combining groundbreaking 3D printer technology with specialized 3D photopolymer materials, CADworks3D has built a complete and efficient 3D printing solution for fabricating PDMS devices. This includes their ProFluidics 285D DLP printer, and their in-house photopolymer resin, the Master Mold for PDMS Device resin.

The iMac will reportedly get an SOC and incremental updates, and a full redesign (with smart keys, which will join the Touch Bar, rather than replace it). It is being delayed until next year.

Apple is reportedly updating its entire MacBook lineup this year, with a new MacBook Pro, a more powerful version of the 12-inch MacBook, and an updated 13-inch MacBook Air. (Foxconninsider noted in the thread that the MacBook Air was being discontinued, so we’ll see.) They noted that they tested some updated MacBook designs, which included “more glass and dark black body,” as well as a reintroduction of white apple light that was discontinued in 2015. When asked if it would be similar to the Thunderbolt Display, they agreed: “Somewhat; similar to the black iPhone 7 and the iPhone X finish (like iPhone 4).”

Foxconninsider noted that contrary to rumors, Apple is sticking with its lightning cable. When asked about TV panels, they also said that there’ll be some information coming later this year about the Apple TV.

When used in conjunction with CADworks3D’s Master Mold for PDMS Device Resin, users are able to build master molds with 50µm open channels and surface roughness value (Ra) of 0.18µm. This photopolymer has been formulated to reduce the amount of steps required to fabricate microfluidic PDMS devices. It does not require release agents, coatings or other pre-treatment processes for a successful PDMS cast. 3D printed master molds are able to withstand the temperatures needed to properly cure the PDMS. According to statistics provided by the Kelley Lab from the University of Toronto, with proper care, one 3D printed master mold can be used to create well over 500 PDMS devices. Additionally, 3D printed master molds do not leech any chemicals, allowing casted PDMS devices to retain their biocompatible properties.

Photolithography is primarily suited for processing semiconductor materials like silicon and glass, and is not ideal for materials that are incompatible with the harsh chemicals and high temperatures used in the process. Subsequently, the demand for more accessible and versatile microfluidic devices has grown, and soft lithography has emerged as a game-changer in the industry.

Foxconninsider referred to the overhauled iPhone as the iPhone X, and that production has been delayed, which is in line with some rumors that have surfaced recently. The user noted that some of the leaked designs weren’t accurate, and explained that the new version looked “more like an iPhone 7 with glass and without the AuthenTec's capacitive touch module.” When asked which leaked image it looked like the most, they said that the middle one was the most accurate. The rear camera has been reoriented, and the bezel on the phone will be thinner on the Y-axis.

CADwork3D has developed a 3D printing solution tailored to the fabrication of PDMS devices. Researchers are given the ability to 3D print, clean and cure a master mold in just a few hours, and within one working day a PDMS device can be casted and ready for bonding to a substrate.The ProFluidics 285D is CADworks3D’s flagship DLP 3D printer. While most 3D printers available on the market are repurposed from other industries, the ProFluidics 285D was designed specifically for microfluidics applications. It operates with a unique technology, known as the dynamic pixel advantage. This allows users to print microfluidic devices with superior 3D printed features, and 3D printed devices closely resemble the intended design as shown on the original CAD file. When compared to other 3D printing platforms, the ProFluidics 285D demonstrates smoother surface finishes and properly resolved curves to produce intricate three-dimensional micro features such as serpentine channels, micro wells and domes.

Photolithography is the most common master mold fabrication technique. However, as discussed, the photolithography process is expensive, time-consuming and leaves much to be desired in building (a) complex designs and (b) three-dimensional features – all in a timely manner. 3D printing addresses these challenges by offering a new, efficient method to creating master molds.

They also said that the discontinued MagSafe would return in “12-18 months.” When asked if the MacBook Pros would get 3D / Force Touch, they noted that aside from the Touch Bar, no laptops in the 18-month range will have any sort of touch display.

Apple is thought to be revealing its Siri-powered home device tomorrow, and Foxconninsider had some details about the device. They described the device as having a similar shape to that of the Mac Pro, but smaller, but also cautioned that they hadn’t seen it in a while. They did note that they tested three designs: “one design without camera, without screen.” (The third presumably has both.) The device would also come with a “modified A9 chip.”

3D Printing Industry is collective work of several authors in our editorial team. Our dedicated team of writers all have a background in technology and are keen to provide news, views and insight into the latest trends in 3D printing across the board including the pioneering home users, the maker community and industrialists.