A lens assembly includes a tube in which optical elements such as lenses or micro-lenses are individually fabricated by dispensing a volume of curable optical polymer into the tube, forming the desired shape for the optical element using one or more plungers having heads corresponding to a desired lensing curvature, applying radiant energy to the tube with the plungers in place to cure the optical polymer, and repeating as needed until the desired number of optical elements are fabricated within the lens assembly which may then be integrated as a single piece into a mobile or wearable device.

A method of forming a three-dimensional object is carried out by: (a) providing a carrier and an optically transparent member having a build surface, the carrier and the build surface defining a build region therebetween; (b) filling the build region with a polymerizable liquid, the polymerizable liquid including a mixture of (i) a light polymerizable liquid first component, and (ii) a second solidifiable component that is different from the first component; (c) irradiating the build region with light through the optically transparent member to form a solid polymer scaffold from the first component and also advancing the carrier away from the build surface to form a three-dimensional intermediate having the same shape as, or a shape to be imparted to, the three-dimensional object, and containing the second solidifiable component carried in the scaffold in unsolidified and/or uncured form; and (d) concurrently with or subsequent to the irradiating step, solidifying and/or curing the second solidifiable component in the three-dimensional intermediate to form the three-dimensional object.

A method of forming a three-dimensional object, wherein said three-dimensional object is an insert for use between a helmet and a human body, is described. The method may use a polymerizable liquid, or resin, useful for the production by additive manufacturing of a three-dimensional object, comprising a mixture of (i) a light polymerizable liquid first component, and (ii) a second solidifiable component that is different from said first component.

A method of forming a three-dimensional object (e.g. comprised of polyurethane, polyurea, or copolymer thereof) is carried out by: (a) providing a carrier and an optically transparent member having a build surface, the carrier and the build surface defining a build region therebetween; (b) filling the build region with a polymerizable liquid, the polymerizable liquid comprising a mixture of: (i) a light polymerizable liquid first component, and (ii) a second solidifiable component that is different from the first component; (c) irradiating the build region with light through the optically transparent member to form a solid blocked polymer scaffold and advancing the carrier away from the build surface to form a three-dimensional intermediate having the same shape as, or a shape to be imparted to, the three-dimensional object, with the intermediate containing the second solidifiable component; and then (d) contacting the three-dimensional intermediate to water to form the three-dimensional object.

An optical component includes a skeleton structural portion, and an optical characteristic portion combined with the skeleton structural portion, made of a resin material and having a predetermined optical characteristics. The skeleton structural portion defines a plurality of regularly disposed openings and the resin material of the optical characteristic portion fits into the openings such that the skeleton structural portion is combined with the optical characteristic portion through the openings.

An injection molding device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a first mold including a first injection port through which a raw material is injected; a second mold including a heating member; a first movable mold facing the first mold or the second mold and having a first cavity formed therein; and a second movable mold facing the first mold or the second mold and having a second cavity formed therein, wherein the position of the first movable mold and the position of the second movable mold can be changed.

A refractive optical component has a main body with a plurality m of optical layers extending between a front side and a back side, each layer having a thickness, wherein each of the layers extends over a region common to all layers, the common region being greater than the maximum thickness of the respective layer by at least a factor of 10, wherein the thickness of the layers varies over the extent thereof transversely to the principal axis, and wherein the main body has a refractive index curve (n=n(x, y, z)), modulated at least in the direction parallel to the principal axis, with a plurality of maxima and minima, a distance between adjacent maxima and minima ranging between 0.5 μm and 100 μm and a refractive index difference Δn between adjacent maxima and minima ranging between 10.sup.−4 and 0.3.

A method of forming a polymer is disclosed. The method comprises: positioning a mould in relation to a bath containing a molten material to form a mould cavity between the mould and the molten material; adding a monomer within the mould cavity; and curing the monomer to form a polymer.

Silicone-containing light fixture optics. A method for manufacturing an optical component may include mixing two precursors of silicone, opening a first gate of an optic forming device, moving the silicone mixture from the extrusion machine into the optic forming device, cooling the silicone mixture as it enters the optic forming device, filling a mold within the optic forming device with the silicone mixture, closing the first gate, and heating the silicone mixture in the mold to at least partially cure the silicone. Alternatively, a method for manufacturing an optical component may include depositing a layer of heat cured silicone optical material to an optical structure, arranging one or more at least partially cured silicone optics on the layer of heat cured silicone optical material, and heating the heat cured silicone optical material to permanently adhere the one or more at least partially cured silicone optics to the optical structure.

Provided is a method for preparing a polymeric article including introducing a polymerizable composition into a mold; sealing the composition within the mold using a sealing means; placing the mold into a convection cure oven; subjecting the polymerizable composition to a cure cycle sufficient to partially cure the composition; extracting the mold from the convection cure oven; optionally, removing the sealing means from the mold; placing the mold into an auxiliary curing chamber which is placed into the convection cure oven, or placing the mold into an auxiliary curing chamber which is within the convection cure oven; subjecting the polymerizable composition to a further cure cycle to complete polymerization of the composition, thereby forming a cured polymeric article; and removing the cured polymeric article from the mold.