3D-Printing Optical Components for Microscopy using a Desktop 3D-Printer

In this work, we present the results of using a commercially available SLA printer for the fabrication of a range of designs of optical components. The optical properties are compared to off-the-shelf optics, including a detailed analysis of optical transmission, part uniformity and surface quality. A post-processing refinement step is introduced whose results are benchmarked against off-the-shelf polished glass lenses to exemplify sub-hundred nanometre surface roughness uniformity with minimal surface defects, and transmission properties as high as 85% at 638 nm for a 1 mm thick optical block without anti-reflection coatings.