Device and method of manufacturing a structure made of a curable material by means of molding

A method of manufacturing a structure made of a curable material by means of molding, the method comprising:

• arranging a molding tool above a surface such that the curable material abuts on the surface and a molding surface, the molding surface being arranged towards the surface, of the molding tool in a region between the molding tool and the surface and such that further curable material may continue to flow to the region;
• irradiating the curable material in the region in a locally varying manner such that the curable material cures at different speeds laterally along the surface and shrinking when curing the curable material is compensated by the further curable material, wherein irradiating in the locally varying manner is performed from a side of the molding tool opposing the molding surface and through the molding tool,
• wherein irradiating in the locally varying manner is performed by means of a ray crossing an optical channel arranged between a radiation source emitting radiation and the molding tool such that the ray is focused by a ray-shaping optical element so as to experience ray focusing while crossing the optical channel;
• wherein part of the radiation used for curing the curable material and reflected from the molding tool is coupled out by a ray-splitting element comprised by the optical channel and the part of the radiation coupled out is imaged onto an image sensor to control the radiation curing the curable material.