3D Printing of Optics

The manufacturing of optics is a cross-cutting technology, as optical components and systems can be found in many industrial, scientific, and consumer applications. Inkjet printing of polymer-based three-dimensional (3D) optical components was first introduced by company LuxExcel. Small 3D optics, such as micro-optics, nevertheless can be manufactured at competitive process speeds, if the capability of inkjet printing on large substrates is employed. Material considerations for the 3D printing of optics have to cover the formulation of an optical material to be suitable for inkjet printing, facing the challenge of combining optical properties and viscosity parameters for inks. The layer-by-layer printing approach and inherent to all additive manufacturing technologies, results in specific challenges regarding the optical quality of the printed bulk volume. This chapter illustrates that using inkjet printing 3D volumes can be manufactured that have optical properties for illumination and imaging applications.