Device and method for creating three-dimensional structures

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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for creating three-dimensional structures consisting of a material to be consolidated, 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,   the wavelength of the laser is chosen such that radiation of the laser source is not absorbed in the material to be consolidated under conditions of linear single-photon absorption,   said laser pulses or laser pulse sequences are configured to trigger a two- or multiphoton polymerization of the material to be consolidated in their focal point by non-linear absorption,   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 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 a defined interface and wherein 
       a carrier unit is arranged in the material container which can be positioned opposite to the latter. 
     
     
         2 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the focusing lens is movable at least in the horizontal (X-Y) plane. 
     
     
         3 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the focusing lens ( 3 ) has a numerical aperture of greater than 0.5. 
     
     
         4 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the working distance between the object lens of the focusing lens ( 3 ) and the associated laser focus is between 0.1 and 100 mm. 
     
     
         5 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the device 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. 
     
     
         6 . A device according to  claim 1 , further comprising an optical detection system. 
     
     
         7 . A device according to  claim 6 , wherein the detection system comprises a light source as well as an electronic registration system. 
     
     
         8 . A device according to  claim 7 , wherein 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 so that they are activated in an optically correct manner. 
     
     
         9 . A device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a dispenser system for the in situ deposition of the material to be consolidated. 
     
     
         10 . A method for creating three-dimensional structures consisting of a material to be consolidated, 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 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 a defined interface via which the laser is introduced into the material to be consolidated, wherein the wavelength of the laser is chosen such that radiation of the laser source is not absorbed in the material to be consolidated under conditions of linear single-photon absorption, and wherein the laser pulse or the laser pulse sequence is configured to trigger a two- or multiphoton polymerization of the material to be consolidated in its focal point by non-linear absorption 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,
 wherein 
   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.   
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein 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). 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein 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. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein the material to be consolidated is added to the material container in situ via a dispenser system.