Design and Optimization of a Light-Emitting Diode Projection Micro-Stereolithography Three-Dimensional Manufacturing System
Abstract
The rapid manufacture of complex three-dimensional micro-scale components has eluded researchers for decades. Several additive manufacturing options have been limited by either speed or the ability to fabricate true three-dimensional structures. Projection micro-stereolithography (P SL) is a low cost, high throughput additive fabrication technique capable of generating three-dimensional microstructures in a bottom-up, layer by layer fashion. The P SL system is reliable and capable of manufacturing a variety of highly complex, three-dimensional structures from micro- to meso-scales with microscale architecture and submicron precision. Our P SL system utilizes a reconfigurable digital mask and a 395 nm light-emitting diode (LED) array to polymerize a liquid monomer in a layer-by-layer manufacturing process. This paper discusses the critical process parameters that influence polymerization depth and structure quality. Experimental characterization and performance of the LED-based P SL system for fabricating highly complex three-dimensional structures for a large range of applications is presented.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 11, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA603137
Entities
People
- Christopher M Spadaccini
- George R. Farquar
- Howon Lee
- Joshua Deotte
- Matthew P. Alonso
- Nicholas X. Fang
- Steven Gemberling
- Todd H Weisgraber
- Xiaoyu Zheng
Organizations
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology