Beam-shaping for Laser-based Additive and Subtractive-manufacturing Techniques (BLAST)

数字微镜器件（DMD）是现代电影放映机中使用的图像投影技术的核心。它们是一个由数百万个微型计算机控制的镜子组成的2D阵列，每个镜子每秒可以在其轴上翻转数千次。当与RGB光源结合时，例如在电影院中，该设备能够将全色视频投影到屏幕上。然而，近年来，这种投影技术已经走出电影院，进入世界各地的实验室，在那里它帮助科学家在许多研究领域。在南安普顿大学的光电研究中心，科学家们一直在使用这种DMD技术来产生微米大小的复杂激光图案，用于开发一系列基于激光的新型减法（去除材料）和加法（添加材料）制造工艺。在这个为期5年的项目中，该团队将与广泛的工业和学术合作伙伴合作，他们看到了新的和令人兴奋的制造工艺的潜力，如下所述：SPI Lasers，英国光纤激光器公司：使用DMD成形激光束的一个主要优势是可以产生，更新和修改光图案的极高速度。该团队将把光纤激光器技术与DMD技术相结合，以实现极高重复率的光束形状和能量控制，应用于广泛的制造领域，包括高价值物体的标记。英国激光集成商M-Solv：在这里，该团队将使用各种工业制造激光器测试和优化他们的技术，并将开发一系列新颖的微尺度增材制造工艺。南安普顿大学医院：最近的科学结果表明，通过复杂设计的2D表面结构，能够控制人类干细胞的专业化（例如骨骼或肌肉）。该团队将与该领域的创始人Richard Oreffo教授合作，利用他们的技术生产一系列定制的表面纹理基质，使生物学家能够进一步了解和控制干细胞在再生医学中的应用。南安普顿大学：超材料是一类具有惊人特性的材料，比如弯曲光线的能力（用作隐形斗篷），甚至是让光线变慢的能力。然而，科学家们还没有开发出一种成本效益高的方法来制造厘米或更大尺寸的这种设备。该团队将研究DMD与高重复率激光器相结合是否可以加快工艺，并实现cm尺寸设备的成本效益制造。Oxsensis，一家开发极端环境传感器的英国公司：该团队打算开发新的制造工艺，以实现航空航天、发电和石油天然气等行业应用的新系列传感器。具体来说，该团队将利用他们最近展示的在钻石中非常准确和快速地进行激光加工的能力，以开发在一系列难以加工的材料中制造传感器的新技术。

Digital Micromirror Devices (DMDs) are the heart of the image-projection technology used in the modern cinema projectors. They are a 2D array of several million, micro-sized, computer-controllable mirrors, where each mirror can flip on its axis many thousands of times per second. When combined with a RGB light source, such as in a cinema, the device enables the projection of full-colour videos onto a screen. However, in recent years this projection technology has moved out of the cinema and into laboratories across the world, where it is assisting scientists in many research fields.At the Optoelectronics Research Centre, at the University of Southampton, scientists have been using this DMD technology to generate micron-sized intricate patterns of laser light, for the development of a range of novel subtractive (removing material) and additive (adding material) laser-based manufacturing processes. In this 5-year project, the team will be working with a wide range of industrial and academic partners, who see the potential for new and exciting manufacturing processes, as summarised below:SPI Lasers, a UK fibre laser company: A major advantage of using DMDs for shaping a laser beam is the extremely high speed at which light patterns can be generated, updated and modified. The team will be combining fibre laser technology with DMD technology to enable extremely high-repetition-rate beam shape and energy control, for applications in a wide range of manufacturing areas including the marking of high-value objects.M-Solv, a UK laser-integrator: Here, the team will be testing and optimising their technology using a wide range of industrial manufacturing lasers, and will develop a range of novel additive manufacturing processes for the micro-scale. The outcome will be additional manufacturing capability for UK companies.University Hospital Southampton: Recent scientific results have shown the ability to control the specialisation of human stem cells (e.g. to bone or to muscle) via intricately designed 2D surface structures. Working with Prof. Richard Oreffo, a founder of this field, the team will be using their technique to produce a range of bespoke surface-textured substrates that will enable biologists to further understand and control stem-cell specialisation for applications in regenerative medicine.University of Southampton: Metamaterials are a family of materials that offer amazingly unusual properties, such as the ability to bend light (for use as invisibility cloaks) or even slow it right down. However, scientists have yet to develop a cost-effective method for making such devices on centimetre or larger size-scales. The team will be investigating whether the DMDs combined with high-repetition-rate lasers can speed up the process and enable cost-effective manufacturing of cm-sized devices.Oxsensis, a UK company that develops sensors for extreme environments: The team intends to develop new manufacturing processes that will enable a new range of sensors for applications in industries such as Aerospace, Power Generation, and Oil and Gas. Specifically, the team will be using their recently demonstrated ability to laser-machine very accurately and rapidly in diamond, in order to develop new techniques for making sensors in a range of difficult-to-machine materials.