High-throughput high-resolution multi-scale three dimensional laser printing

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel 3D laser printing method that simultaneously achieves high throughput and high resolution by using a spatiotemporal focusing scheme in two-photon polymerization, enabling adjustable resolution and multi-scale fabrication.

Contribution

The study demonstrates a new high-throughput, high-resolution 3D printing technique with adjustable resolution using SSTF in TPP, enabling multi-scale structure fabrication.

Findings

Resolution adjustable from sub-10 μm to ~40 μm by laser power

Successful fabrication of multi-scale 3D structures

High throughput combined with high resolution achieved

Abstract

Throughput and resolution are both of critical importance for modern manufacturing, however, they are usually contradictory with each other. Here, a high-throughput high-resolution three dimensional (3D) printing is demonstrated by incorporating a simultaneous spatiotemporal focusing (SSTF) scheme in two-photon polymerization (TPP). Remarkably, the SSTF can ensure generation of a spherical focal spot of which the size depends linearly on the laser power. Thus, the resolution can be continuously adjusted from sub-10 {\mu}m to ~40 {\mu}m by only increasing the laser power. A multi-scale 3D structure is fabricated using this technique, for which the regions of coarse and fine feature sizes are produced at high and low resolutions, respectively.