Abstract: An apparatus for material deposition on an acceptor surface includes a transparent donor substrate having opposing first and second surfaces, and a donor film on the second surface. The apparatus additionally includes an optical assembly, which is configured to direct a beam of radiation to pass through the first surface of the donor substrate and impinge on the donor film at a location on the second surface so as to induce ejection of droplets of molten material from the donor film at an angle that is not normal to the second surface at the location onto the acceptor surface.

Abstract: Optical apparatus includes an acousto-optic medium and an array of multiple piezoelectric transducers attached to the acousto-optic medium. A drive circuit is coupled to apply to the piezoelectric transducers respective drive signals including at least first and second frequency components at different, respective first and second frequencies and with different, respective phase offsets for the first and second frequency components at each of the multiple piezoelectric transducers.

Abstract: Optical apparatus includes an acousto-optic medium and an array of multiple piezoelectric transducers attached to the acousto-optic medium. A drive circuit is coupled to apply to the piezoelectric transducers respective drive signals including at least first and second frequency components at different, respective first and second frequencies and with different, respective phase offsets for the first and second frequency components at each of the multiple piezoelectric transducers.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing includes applying patterned electromagnetic energy to each of a sequence of layers of a dry film comprising a photosensitive material so as to create in the photosensitive material in each of the layers a respective two-dimensional (2D) pattern corresponding to a slice of a predefined three-dimensional (3D) structure. The layers in the sequence in which the respective 2D pattern has been created are laminated together to produce a multi-layer stack. The multi-layer stack is developed so as to remove the photosensitive material in which the 2D pattern has not been created, thereby forming the 3D structure.

Abstract: A method for metallization includes providing a transparent donor substrate (34) having deposited thereon a donor film (36) including a metal with a thickness less than 2 ?m. The donor substrate is positioned in proximity to an acceptor substrate (22) including a semiconductor material with the donor film facing toward the acceptor substrate and with a gap of at least 0.1 mm between the donor film and the acceptor substrate. A train of laser pulses, having a pulse duration less than 2 ns, is directed to impinge on the donor substrate so as to cause droplets (44) of the metal to be ejected from the donor layer and land on the acceptor substrate, thereby forming a circuit trace (25) in ohmic contact with the semiconductor material.

Abstract: A method for metallization includes providing a transparent donor substrate (34) having deposited thereon a donor film (36) including a metal with a thickness less than 2 pm. The donor substrate is positioned in proximity to an acceptor substrate (22) including a semiconductor material with the donor film facing toward the acceptor substrate and with a gap of at least 0.1 mm between the donor film and the acceptor substrate. A train of laser pulses, having a pulse duration less than 2 ns, is directed to impinge on the donor substrate so as to cause droplets (44) of the metal to be ejected from the donor layer and land on the acceptor substrate, thereby forming a circuit trace (25) in ohmic contact with the semiconductor material.

Abstract: A method for fabrication includes providing a substrate having an upper surface with pattern of one or more recesses formed therein. A laser beam is directed to impinge on a donor film so as to eject droplets of a fluid from the donor film by laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT) into the one or more recesses. The fluid hardens within the one or more recesses to form a solid piece having a shape defined by the one or more recesses. The substrate is removed from the solid piece.

Abstract: An apparatus for material deposition on an acceptor surface includes a transparent donor substrate having opposing first and second surfaces, and a donor film on the second surface. The apparatus additionally includes an optical assembly, which is configured to direct a beam of radiation to pass through the first surface of the donor substrate and impinge on the donor film at a location on the second surface so as to induce ejection of droplets of molten material from the donor film at an angle that is not normal to the second surface at the location onto the acceptor surface.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing includes coating a substrate (22) with a matrix (28) containing a material to be patterned on the substrate. A pattern (42) is fixed in the matrix by directing an energy beam to impinge on the coated substrate so as to fix the pattern in the matrix without fully sintering the pattern. The matrix remaining on the substrate outside the fixed pattern is removed, and after removing the matrix, the material in the pattern is sintered.

Abstract: A method for disposing material includes positioning a donor film including a donor material at a predefined distance from an acceptor substrate, the donor film facing toward the acceptor substrate. One or more pulses of laser radiation are directed to impinge on the donor film at a given location so as to induce formation of a protrusion made from the donor material. A distal tip of the protrusion touches the acceptor substrate and disposes thereon while the protrusion is still in contact with the donor film. A spot of the donor material is formed on the acceptor substrate by increasing a separation between the donor film and the acceptor substrate so as to detach the distal tip of the protrusion from the donor film.

Abstract: Printing apparatus (20) includes a donor supply assembly (30), which provides a transparent donor substrate (26) having opposing first and second surfaces and a donor film formed on the second surface so as to position the donor film in proximity to a target area (28) on an acceptor substrate (22). An optical assembly (24) directs multiple output beams of laser radiation simultaneously in a predefined spatial pattern to pass through the first surface of the donor substrate and impinge on the donor film so as to induce ejection of material from the donor film onto the acceptor substrate according, thereby writing the predefined pattern onto the target area of the acceptor substrate.

Abstract: A method for 3D printing includes printing a first metallic material on a substrate as a support structure (48). A second metallic material, which is less anodic than the first metallic material, is printed on the substrate as a target structure (46), in contact with the support structure. The support structure is chemically removed from the target structure by applying a galvanic effect to selectively corrode the first metallic material.

Abstract: Optical apparatus includes an acousto-optic medium and an array of multiple piezoelectric transducers attached to the acousto-optic medium. A drive circuit is coupled to apply to the piezoelectric transducers respective drive signals including at least first and second frequency components at different, respective first and second frequencies and with different, respective phase offsets for the first and second frequency components at each of the multiple piezoelectric transducers.

Abstract: An apparatus for material deposition on an acceptor surface includes a transparent donor substrate having opposing first and second surfaces, such that at least a part of the second surface is not parallel to the acceptor surface, and including a donor film on the second surface. The apparatus additionally includes an optical assembly, which is configured to direct a beam of radiation to pass through the first surface of the donor substrate and impinge on the donor film at a location on the part of the second surface that is not parallel to the acceptor surface, so as to induce ejection of droplets of molten material from the donor film onto the acceptor surface.

Abstract: A method for metallization includes providing a transparent donor substrate (34) having deposited thereon a donor film (36) including a metal with a thickness less than 2 ?m. The donor substrate is positioned in proximity to an acceptor substrate (22) including a semiconductor material with the donor film facing toward the acceptor substrate and with a gap of at least 0.1 mm between the donor film and the acceptor substrate. A train of laser pulses, having a pulse duration less than 2 ns, is directed to impinge on the donor substrate so as to cause droplets (44) of the metal to be ejected from the donor layer and land on the acceptor substrate, thereby forming a circuit trace (25) in ohmic contact with the semiconductor material.

Abstract: Printing apparatus (20) includes a donor supply assembly (30), which provides a transparent donor substrate (26) having opposing first and second surfaces and a donor film formed on the second surface so as to position the donor film in proximity a target area (28) on an acceptor substrate (22). An optical assembly (24) directs multiple output beams of laser radiation simultaneously in a predefmed spatial pattern to pass through the first surface of the donor substrate and impinge on the donor film so as to induce ejection of material from the donor film onto the acceptor substrate according, thereby writing the predefined pattern onto the target area of the acceptor substrate.

Abstract: A method for material deposition includes providing a transparent donor substrate (34) having opposing first and second surfaces and a donor film (36) including a metal formed over the second surface. The donor substrate is positioned in proximity to an acceptor substrate (22), with the second surface facing toward the acceptor substrate, in an atmosphere containing oxygen. Pulses of laser radiation are directed to pass through the first surface of the donor substrate and impinge on the donor film so as to induce ejection from the donor film of droplets (44) of molten material onto the acceptor substrate, forming on the acceptor substrate particles (46) of the metal with an outer layer (54) comprising an oxide of the metal.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing includes coating a substrate (22) with a matrix (28) containing a material to be patterned on the substrate. A pattern is fixed in the matrix by directing a pulsed energy beam to impinge on a locus of the pattern so as to cause adhesion of the material to the substrate along the pattern without fully sintering the material in the pattern. The matrix remaining on the substrate outside the fixed pattern is removed, and after removing the matrix, the material in the pattern is sintered.

Abstract: A method for material deposition includes providing a transparent donor substrate (56, 60) having opposing first and second surfaces and multiple donor films (62, 64) including different, respective materials on the second surface. The donor substrate is positioned in proximity to an acceptor substrate (41), with the second surface facing toward the acceptor substrate. Pulses of laser radiation are directed to pass through the first surface of the donor substrate and impinge on the donor films so as to induce ejection of molten droplets containing a bulk mixture of the different materials from the donor films onto the acceptor substrate.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing includes coating a substrate (22) with a matrix (28) containing a material to be patterned on the substrate. A pattern (42) is fixed in the matrix by directing an energy beam to impinge on the coated substrate so as to fix the pattern in the matrix without fully sintering the pattern. The matrix remaining on the substrate outside the fixed pattern is removed, and after removing the matrix, the material in the pattern is sintered.