Thesis: Form Generation in Laser-Based Optics Manufacturing

In cooperation with the Chair of Laser Technology (LLT), the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology (ILT)—Europe’s leading center for contract research and development in the field of laser technology—is offering the opportunity to write a master’s thesis on the topic: Shaping in laser-based optical manufacturing—factors influencing reproducibility and dimensional accuracy.

Modern laser processes such as Selective Laser-induced Etching (SLE) enable the production of highly precise 3D glass components with feature sizes below 1 µm for key industries such as semiconductors, medical technology, quantum technology, and optics. The newly available SLE lathe enables UKP laser modification of rotationally symmetric components and increases process speed by a factor of 50. However, the increased speed is accompanied by altered process windows and radius-dependent features. Reconciling these with the requirements for surface quality and shape accuracy is the challenge of current research.