In the 3D printing industry, Digital Light Processing (DLP) is receiving a lot of attention lately. EnvisionTEC, for example, uses DLP in several of its 3D printers, and is innovative in its use. To use DLP, a printer will need some type of UV-LED illuminator.
Innovations in Optics, Inc. has recently introduced its LumiBright™ 3300B UV-LED Illuminators for DLP applications such as 3D printing. But, DLP is also used in other industries, including maskless lithography, prepress digital imaging, phototherapy, and refractive surgery. The UV-LED technology offers economical advantages over lasers and arc lamps in UV DLP systems.
DLP and the DLP® (trademarks of Texas Instruments) technology uses millions of tiny mirrors to digitally produce an image with a light source. When used with ultraviolet (UV) light and photosensitive materials, DLP offers continuous scanning, as well as selective and overlapping exposures with greater throughput and efficiency than flying spot laser systems. This technique can deliver fast 3D printing builds.
The Model 3300B UV-LED Illuminators comprise a densely packed UV-LED array coupled to a high efficiency, non-imaging collection optic with an aspect ratio matched to DLP chips. Its integral imaging optic is telecentric over the entire DLP and is constrained in angle to match the micromirror tilt angle. Water-cooling allows the UV-LED array to be operated at high current density. The result is an extremely high power, highly uniform UV-LED illuminator that delivers high speed and resolution for UV DLP applications.
The Model 3300B UV-LED Illuminators support 3D printers for rapid prototyping, additive manufacturing, and tissue engineering. PC-board makers use maskless lithography to revise circuit board layouts. Traditional screen and offset plate printers use UV DLP systems for prepress digital imaging. Emerging UV DLP medical treatments strive for localized, high contour precision for skin lesions in dermatology and for corneal disorders via collagen cross-linking in ophthalmology.
Standard center wavelengths include 365 nm, 385 nm, 395 nm and 405 nm. Single or dual wavelength configurations are available. Two models are available to support both 0.95 1080p and 0.7 XGA format DLP chipsets providing high radiant power greater than 15 Watts on 0.95 DLP and greater than 9 Watts on 0.7 DLP. Thermal management features including water cooling of the LED array are designed to provide more than 10,000 hours of high-power operation.
Innovations in Optics, Inc. (IOI)
www.innovationsinoptics.com
