Utilization of a digital-versatile-disc pickup head for benchtop laser microfabrication

Laser microfabrication is now offering interesting solutions to rapidly produce high-resolution photomasks or microstructures. However, most works require expensive commercial lasers and computer numerical control platforms, limiting its use by a large public. In this paper, we report the constructi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Applied optics (2004) 2012-03, Vol.51 (8), p.1171-1177
Main Authors: Hautefeuille, Mathieu, Jimenez-Zenteno, Alejandro K, Pérez-Alcázar, Pablo Roberto, Hess-Frieling, Kristopher M, Fernandez-Sanchez, Gerardo, Velazquez, Victor, Grether-Gonzalez, Marcela, Lopez-Moreno, Enrique
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Ablation
Computer simulation
Constraining
Lasers
Mathematical models
Optical pickups
Platforms
Toners
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Summary:Laser microfabrication is now offering interesting solutions to rapidly produce high-resolution photomasks or microstructures. However, most works require expensive commercial lasers and computer numerical control platforms, limiting its use by a large public. In this paper, we report the construction of a simple, custom-made, easily reproducible, automated laser system, based on a DVD optical pickup head. A user-friendly computer interface specifically designed to operate a motorized three-axis platform with micrometric precision controls focus distance and in-plane displacements. Writing performance characterization for both direct ablation and sintering of commercial black toner demonstrated flexibility in tridimensional microfabrication resolution and speed thanks to precise management of laser power and exposure time, with a minimal resolution of 3.1 μm.
ISSN:1559-128X
2155-3165
DOI:10.1364/AO.51.001171