A precision core drill for transmission electron microscopy sample preparation produced by 3D printing

A precision core-drilling machine has been designed and constructed almost entirely from 3D printing. The purpose of the drill is to extract 3 mm diameter discs from thin slices of mainly hard brittle materials for analysis in a transmission electron microscope. Novel methods of producing a slide bearing and shaft couplings in 3D printed components have been developed. Design principles and material selection are discussed, and the drill is evaluated by preparing samples from silicon and aluminium. The device can be self-made by any laboratory with a 3D printer, can be recycled when no longer required and can help labs reach their sustainable development goals.