# US 2017/0282453 A1 · Device and method for creating three-dimensional structures > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0282453 A1 - Document ID: US20170282453A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/625,515 - Filed: 2017-06-16 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2010-05-11 - Assignees: Multiphoton Optics GmbH - Applicants: Multiphoton Optics GmbH - Inventors: Ruth Houbertz; Thomas Stichel; Soenke Steenhusen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170282453A1 ## CPC - B29C 64/273: pulsed; frequency modulated - B29C 64/135: the energy source being concentrated, e.g. scanning lasers or focused light sources - B29C 64/386: Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing - B33Y 10/00: Processes of additive manufacturing - B33Y 30/00: Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor - B33Y 50/02: for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes - B33Y 70/00: Materials specially adapted for additive manufacturing - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING ## Abstract The present invention relates to a device as well as a method for creating three-dimensional structures consisting of a material to be consolidated, in particular a material containing organopolysiloxane, by way of locally selective consolidation of the latter as a result of light-induced organic cross-linking. The device is characterized by a movable focusing optical system for the formation of one or a plurality of laser foci, wherein either the laser beam of a laser source can be introduced into the material to be consolidated through the material container and a movable carrier unit is arranged in said container or the focusing optical system is immersed into the material bath and the laser beams can be introduced into the material to be consolidated via a beam exit area of the focusing optical system. In the method, a focusing optical system that is movable in at least one plane is used for the formation of at least one laser focus, and a movable carrier unit is positioned in the material to be consolidated in one embodiment. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for creating three-dimensional structures consisting of a material to be consolidated, in particular a material containing organopolysiloxane, by way of locally selective consolidation of the latter as a result of light-induced organic cross-linkage, comprising a laser source, a movable focusing lens to form one or a plurality of laser foci and a material container for the material to be consolidated, wherein the laser source and the focusing lens are formed to create laser pulses or laser pulse sequences which trigger a two- or multiphoton polymerization of the material to be consolidated in their focal point, and wherein the focusing lens comprises a numerical aperture of greater than 0.25 and is set up such that the distance between the focus range and the bath bottom is at least 0.1 mm, wherein the material container consists at least partially of a material that is permeable for the used laser beam and is or can be arranged in the beam path in such a way that the laser beam can be introduced into the material to be consolidated through the material container, wherein the material container acts as optically defined interface and wherein a carrier unit is arranged in the material container which can be positioned opposite to the latter. ### Claim 2 A device for creating three-dimensional structures consisting of a material to be consolidated, in particular a material containing organopolysiloxane, by way of locally selective consolidation of the latter as a result of light-induced organic cross-linkage, comprising a laser source, a movable focusing lens to form one or a plurality of laser foci, wherein the laser source and the focusing lens are formed for creating laser pulses or laser pulse sequences, which trigger a two- or multiphoton polymerization of the material to be consolidated in their focal point, and wherein the focusing lens comprises a numerical aperture of greater than 0.25, wherein the focusing lens is impermeable to the material to be consolidated and configured to be arranged immersible in the material to be consolidated such that a beam exit area of the focusing lens itself is configured to form an optically defined interface with the material to be consolidated. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A device according to claim 1, characterized by further comprising a container for the material to be consolidated. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the focusing lens is movable at least in the horizontal (X-Y) plane. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the focusing lens (3) has a numerical aperture of greater than 0.5. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the working distance between the object lens of the focusing lens (3) and the associated laser focus is between 0.1 and 100 mm. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a lens for the three-dimensional splitting of the laser beam and for the creation of at least two laser foci or intensity maximums arranged at a three-dimensional distance from each other. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A device according to claim 1, additionally comprising an optical detection system. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A device according to claim 8, characterized in that the detection system comprises a light source as well as an electronic registration system. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A device according to claim 9, characterized in that the detection system at least partially detects the topography of the carrier unit and is connected with a control system used to register surface points potentially deviating from the target value in such a way that they are activated in an optically correct manner. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A device according to claim 1, additionally comprising a dispenser system for the in situ deposition of the material to be consolidated. ### Claim 12 A method for creating three-dimensional structures consisting of a material to be consolidated, in particular material containing organopolysiloxane, by way of locally selective consolidation of the latter as a result of light-induced organic cross-linking based on laser radiation, wherein the material to be consolidated is or will be arranged in a material container, the material container is permeable for the used laser at least in some areas, a laser pulse or a laser pulse sequence is positioned through the material container into the material to be consolidated onto at least one laser focus by means of a movable focusing lens having a numerical aperture of greater than 0.25 in such a way that the material container forms an optically defined interface via which the laser is introduced into the material to be consolidated, wherein the laser pulse or the laser pulse sequence triggers a two- or multiphoton polymerization of the material to be consolidated in its focal point such that consolidation conditions are only achieved in the immediate vicinity of at least one laser focus due to the intensity present there, such that one volume element of the material to be consolidated is consolidated per focus for the duration of the laser pulse or the laser pulse sequence, characterized in that a carrier unit is positioned in the material to be consolidated relative to at least one laser focus, that the material to be consolidated accumulates on the carrier unit or on consolidated material that has already accumulated on the carrier unit during the consolidation, wherein the carrier unit is positionable relative to the material container, wherein the focusing lens is set up such that the distance between the focus range and the bath bottom is at least 0.1 mm. ### Claim 13 A method for creating three-dimensional structures consisting of a material to be consolidated, in particular material containing organopolysiloxane, by way of locally selective consolidation of the latter as a result of light-induced organic cross-linking based on laser radiation, wherein a laser pulse or a laser pulse sequence is positioned into at least one laser focus in the material to be consolidated via a movable focusing lens having a numerical aperture of greater than 0.25, wherein the laser pulse or the laser pulse sequence triggers a two- or multiphoton polymerization of the material to be consolidated in its focal point such that consolidation conditions are only achieved in the immediate vicinity of at least one laser focus due to the intensity present there, such that one volume element of the material to be consolidated is consolidated per focus for the duration of the laser pulse or the laser pulse sequence, characterized in that the focusing lens is or will be immersed into the material to be consolidated, such that an exit area of the focusing lens forms an optically defined interface with the material to be consolidated via which the laser pulse or the laser pulse sequence is introduced into the material to be consolidated. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A method according to claim 13, wherein the material to be consolidated is or will be arranged in a material container. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) A method according to claim 12, characterized in that the focusing lens can be moved at least in the horizontal (X-Y) plane and in the case of the immersed focusing lens, in all three directions of space (X, Y, Z). ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) A method according to claim 12, characterized in that a laser beam is split into at least two sub-beams and/or that at least two laser foci or intensity maximums arranged three-dimensionally apart from each other are created. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) A method according to claim 12, characterized in that the material to be consolidated is added to the material container in situ via a dispenser system. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) A method according to claim 13, characterized in that the carrier unit is a carrier path, unreeled from a roll, pulled in one direction (X-direction) through the material to be consolidated and wound up again after the removal of subsequently created three-dimensional structure(s), wherein the pulling motion occurs discontinuously or continuously.