3D Printing
News Videos Newsletter Contact us
Home / News / Nanoscribe’s Optical 3D Printer Can Create Wide Range of Micro-Optics For Lens Production
qidi

Nanoscribe’s Optical 3D Printer Can Create Wide Range of Micro-Optics For Lens Production

August 7, 2017

Lenses are among the most delicate objects to manufacture. Slight imperfections have massive ramifications for the quality of the overall product. Thus, lens manufacturers have been mining the possibilities of 3D printing due to its ability to work with precise instructions. In this same vein, German company Nanoscribe has developed a new printer that takes lens printing to the nanoscale.

Luxexcel_ophthalmic_3D
Related Story
Luxexcel & IFB Solutions Print Custom Ophthalmic Lenses
Stanford 3D Print Smoother Optical Components Using New Technique
Related Story
Researchers Develop Smoother 3D printed Optics Using New Technique

We’ve previously covered different types of optics printing techniques. This new advent, however, is in the field of micro-optics. Through the use of a 2-photon polymerisation system, the company has developed a one step process for creating broad range of almost arbitrary micro-optical shapes. In essence, what this means is that this process allows them to create a myriad of refractive micro-structures such as refractive micro-optics, freeform optics, diffractive optical elements and even multiplet lens systems.

Applications Nanoscribe’s Optical 3D Printers

The process is very different from standard lens production methods. Grinding and polishing are the usual modes for creating lenses. This is far more precise and works with a higher resolution than previously allowed. On top of that, the company has stated that it produces a smoother surface for the lenses.

Another interesting feature is the ability to create fiber optics in the form of photonic wirebonds. These relay light from one structure to another. This allows for a whole range of possibilities such as passing light from one optic to another or to photonic chips.

The University of Stuttgart experimented with the Photonic Professional GT in microchip production. They printed Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor chips that use tiny lenses to process images. This method provided extra resolution boost. These sorts of lenses can be used for improving cameras and adding to the focus, width and range capabilities.

It also allows for the production of diffractive optical elements and very intricate hemispheric micro-optics. These shapes can greatly increase the possibilities of lens production and would not have been possible without the nanoscale resolution that this process offers.

Photonic Professional GT Optics Printer

Optics Printer GT Professional Nanoscribe

The Photonic Professional GT uses 3D laser lithography to create high resolution micro prints. It has a writing area (build volume) of 100 x 100 square meters. This device also allows the uses to monitor the entire process in real time via a high power microscope.

It has an ultra-precise piezo mode for arbitrary 3D trajectories (FBMS) and the high-speed galvo mode (MBFS) for fastest structuring in a layer-by-layer fashion. The PPGT supports CAD imports and standard STL formats. It also has a 2 photon polymerisation system for processing UV curable photoresists along with 2-photon lithography of common positive-tone photoresists.

It is aimed at research and development in scientific fields. While this article only covered its uses in lens productions it appears to be a diverse machine with various other applications for nanoscale printing projects in micro-fluidics, medicine or micro chip production.

Share:
WhatsApp Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Buffer Reddit E-mail
Join our newsletter

Our newsletter is free & you can unsubscribe any time.

Latest posts

Scientists 3D Print Solar-Powered Sponge for Seawater Desalination

Researchers have developed a 3D-printed aerogel material that uses sunlight to convert seawater into drinking water. The sponge-like structure contains microscopic vertical channels... read more »

News

Revopoint Launches Major Prime Event 2025 Sale with Up to 40% Off 3D Scanners and Accessories

Revopoint is kicking off its Prime Event 2025 with a series of major discounts on its range of professional 3D scanners and accessories.... read more »

News

Turkish Companies Test 3D Printed Component for Armored Vehicles

MetalWorm and Nurol Makina, both based in Ankara, Turkey, have completed testing of an armored vehicle component manufactured using Directed Energy Deposition (DED)... read more »

3D Printing Metal
Turkish Companies Test 3D Printed Component for Armored Vehicles

McGill Spinout Uses 3D Bioprinting to Create Tumors for Smarter Cancer Treatments

TissueTinker, a McGill University spinout company, has developed 3D bioprinting technology to create miniaturized tumor models for cancer drug testing. The company recently... read more »

Medical
McGill Spinout Uses 3D Bioprinting to Create Tumors for Smarter Cancer Treatments

University of Twente Awarded €13.6M for Research in Circular 3D Printing and Transparent AI

The University of Twente has received €13.6 million in funding from the 2024 NWA ORC program to lead two research projects focused on... read more »

News
University of Twente Awarded €13.6M for Research in Circular 3D Printing and Transparent AI

China’s 3D Printed Micro Turbojet Engine Completes Maiden Flight

The Aero Engine Corporation of China (AECC) has successfully completed the first flight test of its 3D-printed micro turbojet engine in Inner Mongolia... read more »

Aerospace
China's 3D Printed Micro Turbojet Engine Completes Maiden Flight

Laser-Assisted Cold Spray Technology Enhances Material Deposition Process

Researchers at the University of Cambridge's Center for Industrial Photonics have developed a new additive manufacturing technique called laser-assisted cold spray (LACS). The... read more »

3D Printing Metal
Laser-Assisted Cold Spray Technology Enhances Material Deposition Process

Titomic Netherlands Secures Strategic Funding to Advance Cold Spray 3D Printing Technology

Titomic Limited, an Australian company specializing in cold spray additive manufacturing, has received €800,000 in funding from the Netherlands' 3D Print Kompas program.... read more »

3D Printing Metal
Titomic Netherlands Secures Strategic Funding to Advance Cold Spray 3D Printing Technology

3D-Printed Insects Help Scientists Map the Limits of Mimicry in Nature

Researchers at the University of Nottingham have developed a method to 3D print life-sized, color-accurate insect models for biological research. The team, led... read more »

Environmental

Social

  • Facebook Facebook 3D Printing
  • Linkedin Linkedin 3D Printing
Join our newsletter

Our newsletter is free & you can unsubscribe any time.

Featured Industries

  • Automotive
  • Aerospace
  • Construction
  • Dental
  • Environmental
  • Electronics
  • Fashion
  • Medical
  • Military
  • Snapmaker Artisan Premium 3-in-1

    • - Print size: 400 x 400 x 400 mm
    • - comes with enclosure
    More details »
    $2,999.00 Snapmaker
    Buy Now
  • QIDI Tech Q1 Pro

    • - Print size: 245 x 245 x 245 mm
    • - 600mm/s max speed
    More details »
    $449.00 QIDI Store
    Buy Now
  • QIDI Plus4

    • - Print size: 305 x 305 x 280 mm
    • - print temperature of 370°C
    More details »
    $799.00 QIDI Store
    Buy Now
  • QIDI Tech X-Max 3

    • - Print size: 325 x 325 x 315 mm
    • - fully enclosed
    More details »
    $799.00 QIDI Store
    Buy Now

Company Information

  • What is 3D Printing?
  • Contact us
  • Join our mailing list
  • Advertise with us
  • Media Kit
  • Nederland 3D Printing

Blog

  • Latest News
  • Use Cases
  • Reviews
  • 3D Printers
  • 3D Printing Metal

Featured Reviews

  • Anycubic Photon Mono M5s
  • Creality Ender 5 S1
  • The Mole 3D Scanner
  • Flashforge Creator 3 Pro

Featured Industries

  • Automotive
  • Aerospace
  • Construction
  • Dental
  • Environmental
  • Electronics
  • Medical
  • Military
  • Fashion
  • Art
2025 — Strikwerda en Dehue
  • Home
  • Join our mailing list
  • Contact us
Blog
  • Latest News
  • Use Cases
  • Reviews
  • 3D Printers
  • 3D Printing Metal
Featured Industries
  • Automotive
  • Aerospace
  • Construction
  • Dental
  • Environmental
  • Electronics
  • Medical
  • Military
  • Fashion
  • Art
Company Information
  • What is 3D Printing?
  • Contact us
  • Join our mailing list
  • Advertise with us
  • Media Kit
  • Nederland 3D Printing