Method for Manufacturing Smooth Surface Difraction Gratings

Optical diffraction gratings are used for light scattering. Current commercial diffraction gratings are expensive, difficult to manufacture, and utilize surface treatment of the lenses which can be easily damaged. Researchers at Purdue University have developed an inexpensive method for manufacturing smooth surface gratings via additive manufacturing, allowing for manufacturing of complicated geometries. This technology is also impervious to mishandling of the lenses since the diffraction pattern is internal to the structure of the lenses. Furthermore, this technology is an inexpensive method for producing light scattering lenses using a single process without complicated machining, making it very repeatable; experiments have also shown that a reflective index of 1.50 can be achieved.

Advantages:

-Repeatable

-Inexpensive

Potential Applications:

-Optical Diffraction Gratings

TRL: 3

Intellectual Property:

Keywords: Optical diffraction gratings, light scattering, inexpensive manufacturing, additive manufacturing, smooth surface gratings, complicated geometries, internal diffraction pattern, light scattering lenses, single process manufacturing, repeatable optical component