3D printed GRIN lens using digital light projection additive manufacturing

The use of additive manufacturing to produce Graded Index (GRIN) lenses has taken the forefront in the search for new design techniques. While multiphoton direct laser writing and inkjet technologies are the leading technologies into this venture, digital light processing (DLP) printers have scarcely been investigated. Using the principles of partial polymerization and a conversion prediction model designed to restrict polymerization exposure, DLP printers can be utilized to generate spatial conversion gradients which further enables the tuning of refractive index profiles. Following the production of a GRIN lens, both optical and chemical characterization must be performed to verify proper performance has been achieved. Recent advances in model development and characterization techniques have displayed more accurate results and produced parts on par with equivalent AM techniques. This work aims to utilize the grayscale capabilities of DLP 3D printers alongside an in-house developed model to produce GRIN lenes with performance approaching the diffraction limit.