A method for printing a three-dimensional optical structure, in particular an ophthalmic lens, wherein the three-dimensional optical structure is built up from layers of printing ink deposited through targeted placement of droplets of printing ink at least partially side by side in consecutive printing steps, wherein a slicing (3) of the three-dimensional structure to be printed is adapted depending on a predefined true layer shape (2) so that during at least one printing step at least one layer is printed depending on the predefined true layer shape (2), wherein the predefined true layer shape (2) comprises the shape and/or volume characteristics of a typical printed layer.

A method of manufacturing an optical component having at least one optical function, comprising: —manufacturing using an additive manufacturing process at least part of an optical element (40) by depositing a plurality of pre-determined volume elements (14) of polymerizable material, a part of the optical element (40) being configured to provide at least a part of the optical function of an optical component, said additively manufacturing being performed such that the optical element (40) comprises an unfinished peripheric surface (42), said unfinished peripheric surface (42) having a relief pattern (44) formed by traces of the additive manufacturing process and having at least one depression (18) with regard to another part of the peripheric surface (42), —coating said unfinished peripheric surface (42) with a layer (50) of coating liquid (46) configured to at least partially fill the at least one depression (18).

A method of producing an optical device from a volume of a curable composition, includes the following steps: —polymerizing a first portion of the volume by irradiating an external surface of the volume with a light irradiation, thereby increasing a transmittance of the first portion for the light irradiation; —polymerizing a second portion of the volume by irradiating the second portion with the light irradiation through the external surface and the polymerized first portion, wherein the light irradiation has a light intensity varying over the external surface between a first light intensity and a second light intensity distinct from the second light intensity. A corresponding system is also described.

In an observation device including a display device, paired ocular optical systems each include a resin lens having a shape defined by an arch and a chord, and provided with a molding gate in an outer peripheral portion of the arc shape, and is appropriately set in: a difference RC between the radius of the resin lens and the length of a line connecting the midpoint of the chord and the point on the optical axis; the diameter D of the resin lens; an angle θ between a direction connecting a midpoint of a long side of the display surface and the point on the optical axis and a direction connecting the molding gate and the point on the optical axis; and an acute angle α between directions connecting the point on the optical axis and the respective molding gates of the resin lenses in the paired ocular optical systems.

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 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.

The disclosure relates to a method for producing an optical element (42, 43) having at least one optically effective surface, wherein, by means of a first injection mold of an injection-molding machine (500, 500′) liquid transparent plastic (54, P4014, P4017) is injection-molded to form a preform and/or a pre-molded part (20) having at least one preform (22, 23), the preform or the pre-molded part (20) subsequently being cooled outside the first injection mold and/or outside the injection-molding machine (500, 500′), and the preform (22, 23) to form the optical element subsequently being injection-molded and/or over-molded in a second injection mold by applying at least one layer of plastic, which forms the optically effective surface (42, 43).

A stereolithography method of manufacture of a polymer structure having a spatially gradient dielectric constant, including: providing a volume of a liquid, radiation-curable composition; irradiating a portion of the liquid, radiation-curable composition with activating radiation in a pattern to form a layer of the polymer structure; contacting the layer with the liquid, radiation-curable composition; irradiating the liquid, radiation-curable composition with activating radiation in a pattern to form a second layer on the first layer; and repeating the contacting and irradiating to form the polymer structure, wherein the polymer structure comprises a plurality of unit cells wherein each unit cell is integrally connected with an adjacent unit cell, each unit cell is defined by a plurality of trusses formed by the irradiation, wherein the trusses are integrally connected with each other at their respective ends, and the trusses of each unit cell are dimensioned to provide the spatially gradient dielectric constant.

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.

Systems and methods for lens creations are disclosed. The method includes initiating light transmission from a light source through a diffuser into a container holding resin and a substrate. The light transmission is performed according to an irradiation pattern wherein each point in the resin is illuminated by at least 10% of the diffuser. This causes a lens to be formed. To achieve this illumination, at least 15% of the diffuser receives light from the light source. Further, a diameter of the diffuser is greater than or equal to a diameter of the substrate. The system performing the methods includes a polymerization apparatus and may include a resin conditioning and reservoir apparatus, a metrology unit, a resin drainage apparatus and an optional postcuring apparatus.