Enabling consumer-grade 3D-printed optical instruments – a case study on design and fabrication of a spectrometer system using low-cost 3D printing technologies

Abstract

3D printing of optical components can broaden access to optical fabrication. However, consumer options for 3D printing have been limited due to the form and roughness requirements for optics. Previous efforts have established a protocol for the fabrication of singlet lenses using a stereolithographic printer and simple post-processing techniques. Here we further elevate this research by building a consumer-grade 3D printed spectrometer utilizing achromatic doublet printed lenses. These lenses are fabricated using stereolithographic printers with a filled cavity and reduce chromatic focal shift by a factor of 6 over singlet lenses. The proof-of-concept spectrometer system incorporates a pinhole, two doublet lenses, and a dispersing prism. Opto-mechanics for the system were fabricated using an FDM 3D printer. Results from the fabricated system closely matched results obtained with a commercially available spectrometer device.

Printing, Characterizing, and Assessing Transparent 3D Printed Lenses for Optical Imaging

“…A liquid-crystal display (LCD) screen then masks the structure of discrete layers of the print design, changing in unison with the axial position of a build plate mounted to a motorized stage to create a printed 3D structure. [21,22] Recent studies have produced mSLA 3D printed lenses for spectrophotometry applications [23] and described methods to quantify their material properties; [24] however, the optical performance of 3D printed lenses remains uncharacterised. Current advances in consumergrade mSLA printer technology enable printing with a lateral resolution of up to 18 μm and an axial resolution of up to 10 μm.…”

Printing, Characterising, and Assessing Transparent 3D Printed Lenses for Optical Imaging

“…The illumination pattern is controlled by projection of a digital micromirror device (DMD) pattern into the liquid resin or light projection through a liquid-crystal display (LCD) screen which masks the structure of discrete layers of the print design, changing in unison with the axial position of a buildplate mounted to a motorised stage to create a printed 3D structure [21,22]. Recent studies have produced DLP 3D printed lenses for spectrophotometry applications [23] and described methods to quantify their material properties [24]; however, the optical performance of 3D printed lenses remains uncharacterised. Current advances in consumer-grade DLP printer technology enable printing with a lateral resolution of up to 22 μm and an axial resolution of up to 10 μm.…”