High-resolution 3D printing
that covers multiple scales and applications
Experience Quantum X shape
The most versatile high-resolution 3D printer
The Quantum X shape is a configurable high-accuracy 3D printer based on Two-Photon Polymerization. It delivers optimal performance in rapid prototyping and wafer-scale batch production of complex 2.5D and 3D shapes across various scales with submicron precision and accuracy.
Reshaping precision, output & usability
Quantum X shape offers outstanding versatility and flexibility for science and research applications. It covers multiple orders of magnitude – from nanometer-scale structures to centimeter-sized objects with high-volume throughput. It’s designed for research-driven environments such as universities, R&D centers, and multi-user labs.
Operate your multiphoton lithography system via touchscreen or nanoConnectX across diverse materials and substrates. Benefit from industrial-grade precision, reliability and time-efficient wafer batch production. Achieve success in a wide range of applications, such as micromechanics, MEMS, material engineering, microoptics, and life sciences.
Quantum X shape
One system. Infinite applications.
Quantum X shape in facts and figures
Included features
-
High-resolution 3D printing based on Two-Photon Polymerization for intricate nano-, micro-, meso- and macrostructures
Optional features
-
Rapid and accurate surface patterning enabled by Two-Photon Grayscale Lithography (2GL®)
-
Aligned 3D printing, e. g. high-precision optics aligned to fiber cores, chip surfaces and edges, or fiducials using Aligned 2-Photon Lithography (A2PL®)
-
Up to 60 times faster speeds at superior quality compared to classic 2PP, achieved through 3D printing by 2GL® (Two-Photon Grayscale Lithography)
-
Automatic dispenser for efficient batch-processing and wafer-level microfabrication
-
Automatic printing aligned to fiber cores enabled by the Fiber Printing Set
-
Automatic 3D mapping of complex substrate topographies enabled by Chip Printing Set with a confocal detection module
-
CO₂, temperature, and humidity control with heatable cell culture dishes enabled by Bioprinting Set
| Surface roughness (Ra) | down to ≤ 5 nm |
| Feature size control | down to 100 nm in x/y direction |
| Shape accuracy (Sa) | down to ≤ 200 nm |
| Batch processing | up to 200 typical mesoscale structures overnight |
| Stitching-free part diameter | up to 4,000 µm |
| Maximum scan speed | 6.25 m/s divided by lens magnification |
Peak values, only achieved under specific conditions such as printing parameters, print heads, photoresins, and designs.
| Substrates | Microscope slides (3” x 1” / 76 x 26 mm2) Wafers from 1” to 8” (25.4 mm to 200 mm) Various flat substrates up to a size of 100 x 100 mm2 Various glass bottom dishes Glass, silicon, other transparent and opaque materials |
| Photoresins | Nanoscribe photoresins (polymer printing) Nanoscribe GP-Silica (glass printing) Open for third-party or custom materials |
Designed for flexibility
with features that expand capabilities
Dr. Michael Thiel, Chief Science Officer (CSO) and Co-Founder of Nanoscribe
Quantum X shape is our flagship two-photon 3D printer for interdisciplinary research. Its exceptional versatility and high-speed performance enable outstanding scientific results.
Quantum X
Your configurable platform
Not sure if Quantum X shape is the best match for your application?
Explore the entire Quantum X platform to compare our printers and discover the configuration options that best suit your requirements, from printing technologies and application sets to software solutions.
Macroscale 3D printing. Nanoscale precision.
There are four print sets available for the Quantum X shape. Whether you need nano-scale precision with the SF Print Set or macro-scale throughput with the XLF Print Set — the Quantum X platform empowers you to print across scales with one solution.
The XLF Print Set expands the capabilities of Two-Photon Polymerization 3D printing to the macroscale, enabling the fabrication of millimeter- to centimeter-sized parts with outstanding precision and shape accuracy. Benefit from wafer-scale batch production with print volumes up to 30 cubic centimeters in a single pass.
Equipped with a 5x air objective lens, the XLF Print Set achieves a print field diameter of up to 3,500 µm and offers a generous working distance of 18.5 mm. This enables fast and flexible prototyping or batch production of functional parts, such as microfluidic devices, mechanical components, housings, nozzles, or connectors.
Quantum X shape
Shape your print job with our software
Field-proven software for 3D microfabrication at wafer level
How to get from your 3D design to the final 3D-printed structure? Along Nanoscribe’s software solutions, you will make it easily to your successful print. Generate, upload, print, and monitor your print job directly from the device’s touchscreen or remotely from your PC.
Create your 3D print job with DeScribeX or nanoPrintX: We offer two powerful software solutions, each designed to meet your specific needs. The 3D print job development software DeScribeX takes you from 3D CAD model import to print job upload in just a few steps. It’s intuitive and easy with print preview and simulation.
Compose your own customized print project with nanoPrintX. Define the print scenario by creating a virtual model of your specific substrate, import your 3D print designs or use pre-installed simple geometries as building blocks. Assign pre-developed print parameters to individual parts of your design as needed. nanoPrintX is powered by our latest printing technology, 3D printing by 2GL®, delivering superior quality at unrivaled speed.
Generate your 2.5D print job with GrayScribeX: The print job development software also guides you from creation to uploading your individual project as a proprietary .nano file to the Quantum X system in just a few steps.
Start your print job via the touchscreen: The intuitive touchscreen menu of Quantum X easily guides you to successful printing. Also benefit from essential data such as hardware information, system status and the print progress. Furthermore, a live view of the print process via three cameras gives you a visual control at any time.
Stay connected with nanoConnectX: Start and monitor your print job from the office with the remote access software nanoConnectX. The Quantum X system is therefore well equipped for production environments and multi-user scenarios in additive manufacturing.
Software facts
DeScribeX is a print job development software for creating individual 3D print jobs for QuantumX shape. The integrated import wizard can load STL files as a widely used 3D CAD format. Pre-installed software printing parameter presets are perfect starting points that guide you to a successful print in just a few steps. The export function makes it easy to transfer the print job to the Quantum X shape remotely.
Key features
- Comprehensive and intuitive 3D CAD model import wizard
- Ready-to-use print parameter presets for optimal high-resolution 3D printing results
- Adaptive slicing dynamically adjusts slicing distances based on the object's slope
- Parameter sweep function to adjust existing print parameters or create new presets
- Programming of advanced print projects with the Integrated Development Environment (IDE)
- 3D preview and printing simulation visualize the entire printing process
GrayScribeX is a specially developed software for creating individual 2D and 2.5D print jobs for Quantum X microfabrication systems. You can import standard grayscale images or CAD models that are automatically converted into grayscale images. A smart software routine translates the gray values from the imported design into the heights of the print object and precisely sets the calibrated print parameters.
Key features
- Import design files as standard images (.bmp and .png) as well as the CAD format .stl
- Work and connect remotely with Quantum X shape, and upload print projects directly from the office
- Create multi lens arrays from a single lens, re-scale and modify designs to fit individual needs
- Straightforward printing of any grayscale design with ready-to-use print parameter presets
- Advanced features such as a compensation file upload result in sub-micrometer print accuracy
nanoPrintX is available for all Quantum X systems. It enables easy and fast design of complex structures and offers special printing strategies for specific parts of a structure. It also supports structure-substrate aligned printing with nanometer precision and is powered by our latest printing technology, 3D printing by 2GL®, delivering superior quality at unrivaled speed.
Structures ranging from the submicron to the millimeter scale can be fabricated using nanoPrintX. Its easy-to-use tree node organization guides you in a few simple steps to set up print projects for aligned prints on optical fibers, on photonic chips and other pre-patterned substrates.
Key features
- 3D rendering canvas for composing and positioning structures relative to each other or to fiber cores, fiducials, and chip edges
- Easy creation of array configurations
- Intuitive organization of all print relevant operations in a tree node
- Ready-to-use parameter presets for optimal print results
- 3D printing by 2GL® for superior quality at unrivaled speed
- Fiducial detection via pattern matching
- Dose compensation for excellent results on substrate edges
- Fiber printing node for automatic fiber core detection and printing of optical structures
- Parametric lens design tool based on ISO standard 10110
nanoConnectX is the remote access software for the Quantum X systems. It brings all the functions and display capabilities of the touchscreen to any computer connected online.
Key features
- Remote access to the Quantum X from your office
- Prepare, control and monitor your print jobs from any location
- Upload and download print jobs and reports
Dive into 3D laser lithography
and learn how Quantum X shape works
How small and how large can you print?
Quantum X shape is a high-resolution 3D printer designed for rapid prototyping and wafer-scale fabrication across a wide range of scales — from nanoscale features to centimeter-sized structures. To address this broad application spectrum, four dedicated print sets are available, each optimized for a specific scale: nano, micro, meso, and macro:
- The Small Features Print Set (SF) features a 63x objective and is designed for highest precision with submicron feature sizes.
- The Medium Features Print Set (MF) is specially tailored to the high-speed fabrication of microscale parts. Typical structures, such as microlenses with a size of several hundreds of micrometers and a surface roughness (Ra) of less than 5 nanometers become possible.
- The Large Features Print Set (LF) extends the benefits of high-resolution 3D printing to mesoscale structures with precision in the micrometer range.
- The Extra Large Features Print Set (XLF) expands the high-resolution 3D printing range from nano- and microscale structures to millimeter- and centimeter-sized objects.
Site requirements for Quantum X shape?
Quantum X shape should have its fixed place in a room with stable temperature and humidity. The direct laser writing system is equipped with a highly stable platform to reduce the influence of vibrations and temperature fluctuations of the environment. For the handling of standard 3rd party UV-curable resins and photoresists, we recommend to equip the room with yellow light and to meet basic requirements of a chemistry lab to handle organic solvents for the print development process properly.
If you would like to get an idea of how the Quantum X shape work environment can look like, contact us and visit our Microfabrication Experience Center here at Nanoscribe or book your online tour.
Why is Quantum X shape ideal for shared facilities?
The high-resolution 3D printer Quantum X shape is ideal for shared facilities because it supports many substrates and materials, meeting a variety of research needs. Its intuitive design lets users start printing right away, even if they are new to the system. Excellent technical support and the online NanoGuide, where you can quickly look up information, make it even easier for everyone to use.
Quantum X shape software controls and monitors print jobs in real time and supports intuitive operation through an interactive touchscreen control panel, or remotely via the remote access software nanoConnectX. Each user can access the Quantum X shape from their own computer.
Which materials are usable with Quantum X shape?
Quantum X shape is an open system with regard to printing materials and thus equally suited for the use of custom or third-party materials. However, Nanoscribe offers a product line of liquid negative-tone resins that are specially designed for Two-Photon Polymerization based 3D microfabrication. These application-specific and ready-to-use materials provide submicrometer resolution as well as outstanding shape accuracy and structural stability. The material portfolio covers a wide spectrum of functional needs — from IP-PDMS for soft, flexible and highly elastic structures, to IP-n162 as a high refractive index material for photonic applications, and IP-Visio, a biocompatible resin with low autofluorescence ideal for cell-related research. IP-S enables smooth surfaces and optical-quality shape fidelity on the micro- and mesoscale, while IP-Dip is optimized for finest submicron features and high aspect ratio structures.
Our materials range from versatile all-rounders to highly specialized resins for demanding applications in high-resolution 3D printing, high-resolution 3D biofabrication, optics manufacturing and maskless lithography.
Learn more about our IP Photoresins or GP-Silica and their potential for tomorrow’s applications.
Quantum X shape
Let's explore your possibilities
Still on the search? Discuss your questions with Jochen, our product expert, in a no-obligation 20-minute meeting.
We also invite you to schedule a personalized product demonstration, online or on-site, to experience the power of Quantum X shape.