Related papers: 3D printing for astronomical mirrors
The purpose of this short paper is to describe a project to manufacture a 3D-print of a pendant that includes a logo. The methods described in this paper involve processing the image of the logo through a Mathematica script. These methods…
Additive manufacturing techniques enable the fabrication of functional microstructures with mechanical and chemical properties tailored to their intended use. One common technique is stereolithography, which has recently been augmented in…
Advanced three-dimensional manufacturing techniques are triggering new paradigms in the way we design and produce sophisticated parts on demand. Yet, to fully unravel its potential, a few limitations have to be overcome, one of them being…
This paper discusses the possibility of making an object that precisely meets global structural requirements using additive manufacturing and feedback control. An experimental validation is presented by printing a cantilever beam with a…
Constructing precise micro-nano metal patterns on complex three-dimensional (3D) plastic parts allows the fabrication of functional devices for advanced applications. However, this patterning is currently expensive and requires complex…
3D printing of high-quality silica photonic structures is particularly challenging, as surface roughness at the nanoscale can severely degrade optical performance through scattering losses. Here, we develop a technique to fold ultrasmooth…
We demonstrate the fabrication of millimeter-sized optical components using tomographic volumetric additive manufacturing (VAM). By purposely blurring the writing beams through the use of a large etendue source, the layer-like artifacts…
A solution for the most important problems in 3D printing technology (long print times, small build volumes and limited material properties) is proposed. Method is based on the fact that temperature of melts crystallization can be shifted…
This work explores a spatial printing method to fabricate continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites (CFRTPCs), which can achieve exceptional mechanical performance. For models giving complex 3D stress distribution under loads,…
We introduce a method to analyze and modify a shape to make it manufacturable for a given additive manufacturing (AM) process. Different AM technologies, process parameters or materials introduce geometric constraints on what is…
High-contrast imaging provided by a coronagraph is critical for the direction imaging of the Earth-like planet orbiting its bright parent star. A major limitation for such direct imaging is the speckle noise that is induced from the…
Using spherical mirrors in place of wide-angle cameras allows for cost-effective monitoring of manufacturing processes in hazardous environment, where a camera would normally not operate. This includes environments of high heat, vacuum and…
The advent of extremely large telescopes will bring unprecedented light-collecting power and spatial resolution, but it will also lead to a significant increase in the size and complexity of focal-plane instruments. The use of freeform…
Reverse engineering can be used to derive a 3D model of an existing physical part when such a model is not readily available. For parts that will be fabricated with subtractive and formative manufacturing processes, existing reverse…
3D-printing of radiofrequency (RF) cavity resonators could provide a cost-effective solution that enables rapid prototyping and design flexibility compared to traditional fabrication of full-metal cavities. In this work, the feasibility of…
We describe our work towards the manufacture of micro-optical arrays using freeform diamond machining techniques. Simulations have been done to show the feasibility of manufacturing micro-lens arrays using the slow-tool servo method. Using…
This paper presents a simple and effective method to fabricate a polydimethyl-siloxane (PDMS) microlens array with a high fill factor, which utilizes the UV proximity printing and photoresist replication methods. The concave microlens array…
Despite the decades-long history of 3D printing, it is not used to its full potential. Yet 3D printing holds promise for isolated communities, aiming for self-sufficiency. In this experiential study conducted in an analog space habitat we…
High-aspect-ratio polymer materials are widely utilized in applications ranging from everyday materials such as clothing to specialized equipment in industrial and medical fields. Traditional fabrication methods, such as extrusion and…
This paper introduces a novel curve-based slicing method for generating planar layers with dynamically varying orientations in digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing. Our approach effectively addresses key challenges in DLP printing,…