Assessment of Additive Manufacturing Processes for Monolithic Diffractive-Refractive Micro-Components

We propose novel additive manufacturing processes to cost-effectively generate prototypes and small batches of hybrid micro-optical components. We combine UV-molding with inkjet printing techniques using the polymer inks InkOrmo and InkEpo designated for permanent optical applications. This enables the integration of diffractive and refractive optical elements into one monolithic micro-component and thus the implementation of tailor-made optical designs. Finally, the proposed processes allow a high versatile fabrication making individual micro-optics easily accessible.