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Researchers from the University of Stuttgart have developed a new, reliable method of coating 3D printed lenses with anti-reflective coatings. Dubbed low-temperature thermal atomic layer deposition (ALD), the approach is capable of coating multi-lens systems as small as 600 microns in diameter, and helps to minimize the light lost due to reflections between lens interfaces. According to the team, the innovation will have major implications for the 3D printing of high-performance optical systems that rely on multiple microlenses. “Our new method will benefit any 3D printed complex optical system that uses multiple lenses,” said Harald Giessen, lead author of the study. “However, it is especially useful for applications such as miniature fiber endoscopes, which require high-quality optics and are used for imaging under less-than-ideal lighting conditions.” A 3D printed microlens with and without the anti-reflective coating. Image via University of Stuttgart. The need to eliminate reflections Within optical systems, a…    read more 

Researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder have developed a new method of multi-material 3D printing that’s capable of producing parts with both solid and liquid components. Virtually all of today’s 3D printers, bar maybe a few experimental devices, 3D print exclusively solid objects. This is great for everything from desk toys and gears to engine parts and electronics casings, but the ability to integrate liquid sections into a build could vastly expand the number of potential applications. For example, a solid-liquid printer could fabricate entire wearable electronics with solid structural parts and integrated liquid wires, as well as lifelike medical models that more accurately mimic the look and feel of human organs. Taking it a step further, such a machine might even be able to produce an entire print-in-place robot with a single print run, eliminating the need for any assembly. Robert MacCurdy, senior author of the study, said,…    read more