Development of Light Pipes via Vat Photopolymerization for Advanced Optical Applications

Recent advancements in additive manufacturing have paved the way for the fabrication of optical components with immense potential in advanced optical illumination applications. This study presents the additive manufacturing of various intricate light pipes/light funnels from self-prepared photosensitive resin fabricated via vat photopolymerization 3D printing. The light pipes encompass diverse geometries, including cylindrical, L-shaped, hexagonal, trapezoidal, and rectangular forms. Upon optical characterization, critical phenomena such as volume scattering and the formation of thin laser lines were observed. Moreover, when investigating the hexagonal and L-shaped structured pipes, excellent light homogenization and precise right-angle bending were achieved. The light pipes were 3D printed horizontally and vertically to evaluate their optical transmission capabilities. A dip-coating post-treatment was performed using the same resin employed for 3D printing the light pipes to further enhance surface smoothness. The developed light pipes have promising applications in advanced lighting systems for creating visual effects and enabling precise measurements. Moreover, these optical components are highly valuable for innovation and technological progress in industries such as automotive, electrical instrumentation, solid-state lighting, lithography, and projection systems.