“We purposely added optical blurring to the beams of light utilized for this 3D printing method to produce precision optical parts,” said Daniel Webber from the National Research Council of Canada.”In Optica, Optica Publishing Groups journal for high-impact research, these researchers show the brand-new approach by using it to make a millimeter-sized plano-convex optical lens with an imaging efficiency similar to a commercially readily available glass lens.”We expect this approach to be important for quick and cost-effective prototyping of optical elements due to the price of the tomographic 3D printer and the products utilized,” said Webber.”The new method utilizes a customized forecast lens to blur the laser beams used to strengthen a light-sensitive resin. Additionally, the researchers showed overprinting of a ball lens onto an optical fiber, which was formerly just possible using an additive production strategy understood as two-photon polymerization.They are now working to improve part precision by optimizing the light patterning method and by including product specifications into the printing process.
“We intentionally included optical blurring to the beams of light used for this 3D printing approach to make accuracy optical parts,” stated Daniel Webber from the National Research Council of Canada.”The brand-new method utilizes a custom-made projection lens to blur the laser beams utilized to solidify a light-sensitive resin. In addition, the researchers demonstrated overprinting of a ball lens onto an optical fiber, which was formerly just possible using an additive production strategy understood as two-photon polymerization.They are now working to improve component accuracy by optimizing the light pattern approach and by incorporating material parameters into the printing procedure.