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Dispensing of microlenses under adjustable gravity

Research output: Chapter in book/report/conference proceedingConference contributionResearchpeer review

Authors

  • Laura Fütterer
  • Andreas Evertz
  • Marco Nicolas Galati
  • Ludger Overmeyer
  • Christoph Lotz

Details

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationAdvanced Fabrication Technologies for Micro/Nano Optics and Photonics XVIII
EditorsChristophe Moser, Eva Blasco, Debashis Chanda
PublisherSPIE
ISBN (electronic)9781510685109
Publication statusPublished - 19 Mar 2025
EventAdvanced Fabrication Technologies for Micro/Nano Optics and Photonics XVIII 2025 - San Francisco, United States
Duration: 25 Jan 202531 Jan 2025

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume13381
ISSN (Print)0277-786X
ISSN (electronic)1996-756X

Abstract

Lenses are essential components in photonic systems to enable compact and high performance optical applications. While various lens fabrication methods exist, the influence of gravity on these processes has remained understudied due to limited access to variable gravity environments. This study leverages the Einstein-Elevator, the first third-generation drop tower in operation, to investigate the effects of gravity on the fabrication of polymer-based microlenses, which are produced by jet dispensing of sessile photopolymer droplets onto a glass substrate and subsequent UV curing. Systematic experiments were conducted under six different gravitational conditions (0 g, 0.17 g, 0.38 g, 0.6 g, 0.8 g, and 1 g)*. The manufactured lenses were analyzed for morphological parameters including curvature, height, diameter, and contact angle. The findings reveal that while gravity has minimal effect on the morphology of small lenses, larger lenses show noticeable changes under reduced gravity. Through this study, it is possible to achieve tailored droplet morphologies by varying gravity. These results show that gravity influences manufacturing processes and that gravity is an essential parameter, which is not only relevant for future manufacturing processes in space.

Keywords

    additive manufacturing, adjusted gravity, dispensed lenses, geometric properties of sessile drops, in-space manufacturing

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Cite this

Dispensing of microlenses under adjustable gravity. / Fütterer, Laura; Evertz, Andreas; Galati, Marco Nicolas et al.
Advanced Fabrication Technologies for Micro/Nano Optics and Photonics XVIII. ed. / Christophe Moser; Eva Blasco; Debashis Chanda. SPIE, 2025. 1338109 (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering; Vol. 13381).

Research output: Chapter in book/report/conference proceedingConference contributionResearchpeer review

Fütterer, L, Evertz, A, Galati, MN, Overmeyer, L & Lotz, C 2025, Dispensing of microlenses under adjustable gravity. in C Moser, E Blasco & D Chanda (eds), Advanced Fabrication Technologies for Micro/Nano Optics and Photonics XVIII., 1338109, Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering, vol. 13381, SPIE, Advanced Fabrication Technologies for Micro/Nano Optics and Photonics XVIII 2025, San Francisco, California, United States, 25 Jan 2025. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3042899
Fütterer, L., Evertz, A., Galati, M. N., Overmeyer, L., & Lotz, C. (2025). Dispensing of microlenses under adjustable gravity. In C. Moser, E. Blasco, & D. Chanda (Eds.), Advanced Fabrication Technologies for Micro/Nano Optics and Photonics XVIII Article 1338109 (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering; Vol. 13381). SPIE. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3042899
Fütterer L, Evertz A, Galati MN, Overmeyer L, Lotz C. Dispensing of microlenses under adjustable gravity. In Moser C, Blasco E, Chanda D, editors, Advanced Fabrication Technologies for Micro/Nano Optics and Photonics XVIII. SPIE. 2025. 1338109. (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering). doi: 10.1117/12.3042899
Fütterer, Laura ; Evertz, Andreas ; Galati, Marco Nicolas et al. / Dispensing of microlenses under adjustable gravity. Advanced Fabrication Technologies for Micro/Nano Optics and Photonics XVIII. editor / Christophe Moser ; Eva Blasco ; Debashis Chanda. SPIE, 2025. (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering).
Download
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