Resolution of micro-stereo-lithography system using high viscosity nanocomposites

To fabricate microstructures using high viscosity composites, an integral stereo-lithography (SL) system adopting a digital micro-mirror device (DMD) as its dynamic mask was developed, which employed our novel resin vat and coating system. It shows that the lateral resolution of the SL system is determined by the optical resolution and the chemical response of the photo curable resin, the lateral resolution of the SL system is decreased as the curing depth goes beyond a critical value. The measured values of the optical system-s resolution and the resin-s working curve indicate that the maximum lateral resolution of the SL system is 14 m.