FEMTOPRINT Femtosecond Laser Printer for Glass Microsystems with Nanoscale Features

Summary

The aim of Femtoprint is to develop a printer for microsystems with nano-scale features, so as to give a range of users from industry, research institutes and universities the ability to produce their own micro-systems rapidly and without the need for expensive infrastructure and specialist knowledge. Recent research has shown that it is possible to form three-dimensional patterns in glass material using low-power femtosecond laser beams. The patterns produced are used to form integrated optics components or three-dimensional structures such as fluidic channels and micro-mechanical components. This simple manufacturing process opens avenues for a broad variety of microsystems with nano-scale features. Thanks to the low amounts of energy required to pattern the glass, it is enough to use femtosecond lasers consisting of only one oscillator to produce these micro- and nano-systems. Nowadays, these systems are of table-top size and cost a fraction of the price of conventional clean-room equipment. It is even foreseeable that within three to five years, they will be small enough to fit inside a shoebox. A clear outcome of Femtoprint will be the commercialisation of the ‘femtoprinter’ through the creation of a consortium spin-off. Potential economic impacts are considerable and expected to benefit various industrial sectors such as the biotechnologies, telecommunications, precision industries, microsystems and electronics industries. The project team will pursue three main objectives: • Development of a femtosecond laser which is suitable for glass that can be manufactured on a micro/nano scale. • Incorporation of the laser into a machine similar to a printer which is able to position and manipulate glass sheets of various thicknesses. • Demonstration of the printer’s ability to generate a variety of micro/nano-systems with optical, mechanical and fluid-handling capabilities. Contact: Mr. Yves Bellouard ( yves.bellouard @epfl. ch ).

Resources Show all and search (1)

Unfold all

Fold all

More information & hyperlinks

Web resources:	http://www.femtoprint.eu https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/260103
Start date:	01-05-2010
End date:	30-04-2013
Total budget - Public funding:	3 391 780,00 Euro - 2 493 468,00 Euro

View on other portals

EFFRA Innovation Portal

Cordis data

Original description

FEMTOPRINT is to develop a printer for microsystems with nano-scale features fabricated out of glass. Our ultimate goal is to provide a large pool of users from industry, research and universities with the capability of producing their own micro-systems, in a rapid-manner without the need for expensive infrastructures and specific expertise. Recent researches have shown that one can form three-dimensional patterns in glass material using low-power femtosecond laser beam. This simple process opens interesting new opportunities for a broad variety of microsystems with feature sizes down to the nano-scale. These patterns can be used to form integrated optics components or be ‘developed’ by chemically etching to form three-dimensional structures like fluidic channels and micro-mechanical components. Worth noticing, sub-micron resolution can be achieved and sub-pattern smaller than the laser wavelength can be formed. Thanks to the low-energy required to pattern the glass, femtosecond laser consisting simply of an oscillator are sufficient to produce such micro- and nano- systems. These systems are nowadays table-top and cost a fraction of conventional clean-room equipments. It is highly foreseeable that within 3 to 5 years such laser systems will fit in a shoe-box. The proposal specific objectives are: 1/ Develop a femtosecond laser suitable for glass micro-/nano- manufacturing that fits in a shoe-box 2/ Integrate the laser in a machine similar to a printer that can position and manipulate glass sheets of various thicknesses 3/ Demonstrate the use of the printer to fabricate a variety of micro-/nano-systems with optical, mechanical and fluid-handling capabilities. A clear and measurable outcome of Femtoprint will be to be in a situation to commercialize the ‘femtoprinter’ through the setting-up of a consortium spin-off. The potential economical impact is large and is expected in various industrial sectors.