Three-dimensional addititve manufacturing of optical waveguides

该研究项目的总体目标是了解功能特定的三维聚合物光波导的生产中的效应和功能关系。由此，可将光学短距离链路直接打印到表面上。在第二个资助期，设计的自由将从二维空间扩展到任意形状(无根切)的三维表面。如何通过在空间曲面上进行加法制造来制造具有光学质量的聚合物光波导？这可以具体如下：·第一个资助期的二维打印结果在多大程度上可以适用于三维基板？在表面能/应力、摩擦力、作用力引起的流动行为、粗糙度、界面效应等方面是否存在迄今未被注意到的影响，以及所有这些因素如何影响所产生的几何和光学性质？·如何量化和建模这些影响，以及如何从建模中得出最佳工艺参数设置？·如何确保涂层的应用不仅在2D中，而且在3D中都是明确的和可重复的？是否有必要对表面进行特定的处理，或者是否有目的地打印到未固化的芯子上(液体-液体-打印)？·关于形状的光学和机械性能的限制在哪里？

The overall objective of the research project is to understand effects and functional relationships in the production of function-specific three-dimensional polymer optical waveguides. By this, the possibility of printing optical short-distance links directly onto the surface shall be given. In the second funding period, the freedom of design is to be extended beyond the two-dimensional space to arbitrarily shaped (free of undercuts) three-dimensional surfaces.How is it possible to produce polymer optical waveguides with optical quality by additive manufacturing on spatially curved surfaces?This can be specified as follows:• To what extent can the results obtained for two-dimensional printing during the first funding period be adapted to three-dimensional substrates? Are there hitherto unregarded effects in terms of surface energy / stress, friction, flow behavior due to acting forces, roughness, interfacial effects, and how do all these factors influence the resulting geometrical and optical properties?• How can these influences be quantified and modeled and how can optimal process parameters settings be derived from the modelling?• How is it possible ensure the application of a coat layer in a defined and reproducible way not only in 2D but also in 3D? Is a specific manipulation of the surfaces necessary or is printing onto the non-cured core purposeful (Liquid-Liquid-Printing)?• Where are the limits concerning the shape in terms of both optical and mechanical properties?