Implementation of a micro electromechanical system (MEMS) phase-only light modulator (PLM) for holographic volumetric additive manufacturing

Recent developments in Volumetric Additive Manufacturing (VAM) have demonstrated the potential to print intricate objects using a more efficient light engine based on coherent light patterns encoded in Lee holograms displayed on a digital micromirror device (DMD) within a holographic configuration. Here we present an implementation of a Phase-only Spatial Light Modulator (PLM), a piston-mode design of a DMD for Holographic Volumetric Additive Manufacturing (HOLOVAM) based on reverse tomography. In this work, we characterize the PLM at 405nm and measure the diffraction efficiency. By synchronizing the laser, the rotation stage, and the PLM, we experimentally demonstrate the printing of centimeter-scale objects with diffraction-limited resolution in less than one minute. The PLM opens new avenues for Tomographic VAM with low-cost single mode UV laser diodes.