Researchers at the University of Southampton in the UK are investigating the use of 3D printer LED light source, or additive manufacturing technology, in optical fiber manufacturing technology. Scientists say this is entirely new method of manufacturing fiber, which can pave the way for a wide range of industrial fields, from biotechnology to aerospace and telecommunications applications.
The present technique is used to produce a fiber optic lighting preform to give a structure which is consistent with its length, which makes it difficult to control the shape and composition of the three-dimensional space of the fiber. This is somewhat limited by the flexibility that engineers can design of the fiber and the ability of the fiber to provide exercise.
New technology of fiber optic lighting 3D printer LED light source, Hu is being developed by Professor Jia Yansa, together with colleagues from Southampton Zep Le college university cooperation fellow Shoufeng Dr. Yang from the school of engineering and environment will allow manufacturing engineers with more complex structure and the characteristics of different pieces along the length of the prefabricated.
The professor said: "we will Sahu, the development of new composite additive manufacturing (MMAM) equipment to make lighting optical fiber prefabricated stick in the tradition of silica and other glass matrix material and micro structure of fiber optic illumination geometry. Our proposed approach can be used to produce complex prefabricated parts, otherwise it is too difficult, too time-consuming, or currently unable to achieve with the existing manufacturing technology."
Preform production is optical fiber manufacturing, especially the most challenging stage, it has a complex internal structure, such as photonic band gap fiber optic lighting - a model of micro structure fiber optic lighting, the Southampton expected will revolutionize the telecommunications and datacoms industry special.
At present, the 3D printer LED light source most micro structure fiber optic lighting is labor-intensive "stack of painting", which involves the accumulation of several smaller glass capillary or stick together by hand to form the prefabricated parts. However, using the new additive manufacturing technology, the researchers expect to form a complex structure of the fiber, from ultra pure glass powder, layer by layer, and gradually build shape to create a few centimeters long.
Professor SA nonsense, "including the high melting temperature of glass, numerous challenges, which is more than 2000 DEG C in silica; need to precisely control the doping, refractive index distribution and waveguide geometry; transition layer between the smooth, otherwise fiber obtained from performance will be changed."We are focus on the special LED and application module on the medical lighting and UV market.please contact us:kevin@sunerled.com or http://www.sunerled.com/English/