Injection Compression Molded Microlens Arrays for Hyperspectral Imaging
In this work, a polymer microlens array (MLA) for a hyperspectral imaging (HSI) system is produced by means of ultraprecision milling (UP-milling) and injection compression molding. Due to the large number of over 12,000 microlenses on less than 2 cm², the fabrication process is challenging...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2018-07-01
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| Series: | Micromachines |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/9/7/355 |
| _version_ | 1818209131277844480 |
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| author | Marcel Roeder Marc Drexler Thilo Rothermel Thomas Meissner Thomas Guenther André Zimmermann |
| author_facet | Marcel Roeder Marc Drexler Thilo Rothermel Thomas Meissner Thomas Guenther André Zimmermann |
| author_sort | Marcel Roeder |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In this work, a polymer microlens array (MLA) for a hyperspectral imaging (HSI) system is produced by means of ultraprecision milling (UP-milling) and injection compression molding. Due to the large number of over 12,000 microlenses on less than 2 cm², the fabrication process is challenging and requires full process control. The study evaluates the process chain and optimizes the single process steps to achieve high quality polymer MLAs. Furthermore, design elements like mounting features are included to facilitate the integration into the final HSI system. The mold insert was produced using ultraprecision milling with a diamond cutting tool. The machining time was optimized to avoid temperature drifts and enable high accuracy. Therefore, single immersions of the diamond tool at a defined angle was used to fabricate each microlens. The MLAs were replicated using injection compression molding. For this process, an injection compression molding tool with moveable frame plate was designed and fabricated. The structured mold insert was used to generate the compression movement, resulting in a homogeneous pressure distribution. The characterization of the MLAs showed high form accuracy of the microlenses and the mounting features. The functionality of the molded optical part could be demonstrated in an HIS system by focusing light spectrums onto a CCD image sensor. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T04:55:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d47ba48319bb4e65a723620e50b16b6a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-666X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T04:55:50Z |
| publishDate | 2018-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Micromachines |
| spelling | doaj.art-d47ba48319bb4e65a723620e50b16b6a2022-12-22T00:37:21ZengMDPI AGMicromachines2072-666X2018-07-019735510.3390/mi9070355mi9070355Injection Compression Molded Microlens Arrays for Hyperspectral ImagingMarcel Roeder0Marc Drexler1Thilo Rothermel2Thomas Meissner3Thomas Guenther4André Zimmermann5Hahn-Schickard, Allmandring 9B, 70569 Stuttgart, GermanyHahn-Schickard, Allmandring 9B, 70569 Stuttgart, GermanyHahn-Schickard, Allmandring 9B, 70569 Stuttgart, GermanyHahn-Schickard, Allmandring 9B, 70569 Stuttgart, GermanyHahn-Schickard, Allmandring 9B, 70569 Stuttgart, GermanyHahn-Schickard, Allmandring 9B, 70569 Stuttgart, GermanyIn this work, a polymer microlens array (MLA) for a hyperspectral imaging (HSI) system is produced by means of ultraprecision milling (UP-milling) and injection compression molding. Due to the large number of over 12,000 microlenses on less than 2 cm², the fabrication process is challenging and requires full process control. The study evaluates the process chain and optimizes the single process steps to achieve high quality polymer MLAs. Furthermore, design elements like mounting features are included to facilitate the integration into the final HSI system. The mold insert was produced using ultraprecision milling with a diamond cutting tool. The machining time was optimized to avoid temperature drifts and enable high accuracy. Therefore, single immersions of the diamond tool at a defined angle was used to fabricate each microlens. The MLAs were replicated using injection compression molding. For this process, an injection compression molding tool with moveable frame plate was designed and fabricated. The structured mold insert was used to generate the compression movement, resulting in a homogeneous pressure distribution. The characterization of the MLAs showed high form accuracy of the microlenses and the mounting features. The functionality of the molded optical part could be demonstrated in an HIS system by focusing light spectrums onto a CCD image sensor.http://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/9/7/355microlens arrayultraprecision millinginjection compression moldingmicrostructurespolymer opticshyperspectral imaging |
| spellingShingle | Marcel Roeder Marc Drexler Thilo Rothermel Thomas Meissner Thomas Guenther André Zimmermann Injection Compression Molded Microlens Arrays for Hyperspectral Imaging Micromachines microlens array ultraprecision milling injection compression molding microstructures polymer optics hyperspectral imaging |
| title | Injection Compression Molded Microlens Arrays for Hyperspectral Imaging |
| title_full | Injection Compression Molded Microlens Arrays for Hyperspectral Imaging |
| title_fullStr | Injection Compression Molded Microlens Arrays for Hyperspectral Imaging |
| title_full_unstemmed | Injection Compression Molded Microlens Arrays for Hyperspectral Imaging |
| title_short | Injection Compression Molded Microlens Arrays for Hyperspectral Imaging |
| title_sort | injection compression molded microlens arrays for hyperspectral imaging |
| topic | microlens array ultraprecision milling injection compression molding microstructures polymer optics hyperspectral imaging |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/9/7/355 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT marcelroeder injectioncompressionmoldedmicrolensarraysforhyperspectralimaging AT marcdrexler injectioncompressionmoldedmicrolensarraysforhyperspectralimaging AT thilorothermel injectioncompressionmoldedmicrolensarraysforhyperspectralimaging AT thomasmeissner injectioncompressionmoldedmicrolensarraysforhyperspectralimaging AT thomasguenther injectioncompressionmoldedmicrolensarraysforhyperspectralimaging AT andrezimmermann injectioncompressionmoldedmicrolensarraysforhyperspectralimaging |