Abstract: A method and printing system for printing a three-dimensional structure, in particular an optical component, by depositing droplets of printing ink side by side and one above the other in several consecutive depositing steps by means of a print head. In each depositing step a plurality of droplets is ejected simultaneously by a plurality of ejection nozzles of the print head. The print head is moved relative to the deposited droplets in a moving step performed between at least two consecutive depositing steps in such a manner that the droplets deposited in the same position in the at least two consecutive depositing steps are ejected at least partly from two different ejection nozzles.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a printed three-dimensional optical component built up from layers of printing ink characterized in that the three-dimensional optical component comprises at least one foil between two consecutive layers. The present invention further relates to a corresponding manufacturing method.

Abstract: A method and printing system for printing a three-dimensional structure, in particular an optical component, by depositing droplets of printing ink side by side and one above the other in several consecutive depositing steps by means of a print head. In each depositing step a plurality of droplets is ejected simultaneously by a plurality of ejection nozzles of the print head. After at least one depositing step, surface properties of a pre-structure built up by the deposited droplets are measured by a measuring unit in a measuring step. Ejection characteristics of the ejection nozzles are determined in dependency of the measured surface properties in a determining step and at least one following depositing step is performed in dependency of the determined ejection characteristics.

Abstract: A method for duplex printing a three-dimensional structure by depositing droplets of printing ink at least partially side by side and one above the other, including: depositing droplets of printing ink in a first printing step in order to build up an intermediate first pre-structure, depositing droplets of printing ink in a second printing step in order to build up an intermediate second pre-structure on at least one side of the first pre-structure, rotating the first pre-structure and arranging the first pre-structure on a support structure in a rearrangement step between the first and the second printing step, wherein an extension of the first pre-structure is arranged on a carrier substructure of the support structure and a main body of the first pre-structure is arranged on an deformation-control substructure of the support structure. The teachings further relate to a duplex printed three-dimensional structure as well as a duplex printer.

Abstract: A method for printing a three-dimensional structure by depositing droplets of printing ink at least partially side by side and one above the other, including steps of: depositing droplets of printing ink in a first printing step in order to build up an intermediate first pre-structure, depositing droplets of printing ink in a second printing step in order to build up an intermediate second pre-structure on at least one side of the first pre-structure, rotating the first pre-structure and arranging the first pre-structure on a support structure in a rearrangement step between the first and the second printing step, where the support structure includes a carrier substructure and a deformation-control substructure, and where the deformation-control substructure comprises a pressure chamber. The present teachings further relate to a corresponding duplex printed three-dimensional structure and a duplex printer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for printing a three-dimensional light guiding structure (1) by curing droplets (7) of a printing material by light irradiation, wherein in a first step the droplets (7) of printing material are deposited by a nozzle (30) or a print head of an inkjet printer such that the droplets (7) of printing material form a layer (10) and in a second step light is directed from a light source to an array (5), wherein the array (5) comprises a plurality of mirror elements (6), wherein at least one mirror element (6) of the array (5) can be orientated such that the at least one mirror element (6) of the array (5) reflects in directly or directly light either onto a screen (3) or onto the layer (10) formed by the droplets (7) of printing material.

Abstract: A method for assembling a three-dimensional optical component from a base body, including providing the base body and loading the base body on a substrate into a printer in a providing step, depositing droplets of printing ink on a first surface of the base body in a first printing step in order to build up an intermediate first pre-structure, depositing droplets of printing ink on a second surface of the base body in a second printing step in order to build up an intermediate second pre-structure, rotating the first pre-structure and arranging the first pre-structure on a support structure in a rearrangement step between the first printing step and the second printing step, wherein the support structure includes a carrier substructure and an extension of the base body rests at least partially on the carrier substructure. The teachings further relate to an assembled optical component and an assembly kit.

Abstract: A method for printing an optical component, in particular an ophthalmic lens, by depositing droplets of printing ink side by side and one above the other in several consecutive printing steps by means of a print head, wherein the optical component is provided with an identifier indicating at least one lens parameter, wherein the identifier is structurally integrated into the optical component during at least one printing step. The present teachings further relate to a corresponding optical component.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for printing a three-dimensional structure comprising the steps of providing structural parameters defining the shape of the three-dimensional structure in a first step, converting the structural parameters into an intensity image having multiple pixels which are arranged in a two-dimensional pattern and which comprises at least different intensities in a second step and controlling the print head in dependency of the intensity image in order to print the three-dimensional structure in a third step, wherein the print head moves to a certain position and deposits at least one droplet of printing material when processing a certain pixel and wherein the number of droplets and/or the amount of printing material deposited at the certain position by the print head is chosen in dependency of the intensity of the corresponding pixel.

Abstract: A method for producing a device wherein, in a first production step, a translucent substrate is prepared, and wherein, in a second production step, a transparent material is printed onto the translucent substrate by a printing method. In the second production step, applications in the form of droplets of transparent material are arranged on the translucent substrate. In the second production step, an element which is formed from multiple applications and further applications is generated. The droplets to generate the element are deposited circularly in concentric rings, and the outermost deposited droplets have a first diameter, and the droplets deposited at a center have a second diameter that is different from the first diameter to build up a lens-like light-directing structure.

Abstract: The present inventions refers to a method for printing an optical element (11) comprising the steps of ejecting at least one droplet (6) of printing material comprising silicone towards a substrate (8) in a first step and curing the droplet deposited on the substrate in a second step.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for printing a three-dimensional structure with a smooth surface comprising the following steps of depositing multiple droplets of printing material at least partially side by side and one above the other and curing the deposited droplets by light irradiation to build up a three-dimensional pre-structure in a first step, and smoothing at least one surface of the three-dimensional pre-structure by targeted placement of compensation droplets in boundary areas of adjacent deposited droplets and/or in edges of the surface to be smoothed in a second step to build up the three-dimensional structure with a smooth surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a print head for printing optical structures on a substrate comprising an ejection device for ejecting at least one droplet of a printing ink towards the substrate in order to build up the optical structure, wherein the print head comprises a measurement means for contactless measuring at least one physical parameter of the at least one deposited droplet.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for printing a three-dimensional structure by depositing a plurality of droplets of printing material onto a substrate, wherein the substrate comprises a main plane and wherein the droplets are deposited in such a manner that layers of printing material are generated which are inclined to the main plane of the substrate.