3d printing optical lenses is usually in domain of high tech companies, but Craig Broady developed and tested a method that enables you to print functional lenses on Form 1 + with clear resin.
The process is well documented in a form of a guide on Formlabs forums and it involves a post-processing by polishing the surface with sand paper and scratch removal fluid.
The lens is 1.75mm at its thinnest and 4.32mm at its thickest, printed with a 50 micron layer thickness.
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| Working lens printed as a monocle on Formlabs 1+ with clear resin |
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| 3d lens during design phase, you can see supports and holding structure |
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| Lens after printing with partial removal of support material |
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| Lens mounted on a hand power drill to smoothen and polish the surface |
More detailed guide can be found here together with lens files:
http://formlabs.com/en/company/blog/2014/09/24/lenses-3D-printed-formlabs/Hopefully we will see more functional objects developed like small binoculars, telescopes and others ... Great job Craig!
