Method for printing a thermoplastic film on an optical mold

A method of printing a thermoplastic film on an optical mold, comprising:

• adjusting, by temperature control circuitry, a temperature of the optical mold to a first temperature;
• printing a first layer of the thermoplastic film on the optical mold once the temperature of the optical mold has reached the first temperature;
• applying, right after printing of the first layer, a vacuum to the optical mold to hold the thermoplastic film on the optical mold and deform the thermoplastic film to conform to a curvature or microstructures of a surface of the optical mold;
• adjusting, by the temperature control circuitry, the temperature of the optical mold to a second temperature;
• printing a second layer of the thermoplastic film on the first layer of the thermoplastic film once the temperature of the optical mold has reached the second temperature;
• adjusting, by the temperature control circuitry, the temperature of the optical mold to a third temperature;
• annealing the first layer and the second layer once the temperature of the optical mold has reached the third temperature;
• and
• removing the vacuum from the optical mold permitting removal of the thermoplastic film including the annealed first layer and the annealed second layer from the optical mold.