Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Manufacturing of molds for replication of micro cube corner retroreflectors

  • Production Process
  • Published:
Production Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Retroreflectors composed of micron-sized cube corner elements are widely used as reflectors on clothes for safety reasons or for measuring applications. Due to the small size of the individual reflector elements structured films can be flexed widely without affecting the geometry of each element too much so that it can still fulfill its function. However, the efficiency of triangle cube corner reflectors widely used today is limited. It could be improved by applying structures with a hexagonal shape resulting in a significantly better performance of the reflector. Up to now these structures are not machinable at micron size (50–500 μm) in sufficient quality. This paper introduces a new machining process, diamond micro chiselling, which is capable of generating these micro retroreflectors and other microoptic structure geometries not machinable so far.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Takeuchi Y, Murota M, Kawai T, Sawada K (2003) Creation of flat-end V-shaped microgrooves by non-rotational cutting tools. CIRP Ann 52/1:41–44

    Google Scholar 

  2. Yuan J, Chang S, Li S, Zhang Y (2002) Design and fabrication of micro-cube-corner array retro-reflectors. Opt Commun 209(1-3):75–83

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Eckhardt HD (1971) Simple model of corner reflector phenomena. Appl Opt 10/7:1559–1566

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Stamm RF (1973) Retroreflective surface. US-PS 3.712.706

  5. Zhu X, Hsu V, Kahn J (2002) Optical modeling of MEMS corner cube reflectors with misalignment and nonflatness. IEEE J Selected Topics Quantum Electron 8/1:26–32

    Google Scholar 

  6. Brinksmeier E, Preuss W, Schmütz J (1997) Manufacture of microstructures by diamond machining. Nineth IPES/UME 4 International Conference, Braunschweig, pp. 503–507

  7. Day M, Weck M (2002) Ultraprecision Milling and planing machine for large workpieces. Third euspen-Conference, Eindhoven, pp. 345–349

  8. Reimer K, Engelke R, Hofmann U, Merz P, Kohlmann KT, Platen V, Wagner B (1999) Progress in graytone lithography and replication techniques for different materials. SPIE, vol 3879, MF-Conference, Micromachine technology for diffractive and holographic optics, Santa Clara, pp. 98–108

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors like to thank the German Research Foundation (DFG) for funding this work as a part of the Transregional Collaborative Research Center SFB/TR4.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory for Precision Machining, Badgasteiner Straße 2, 28359, Bremen, Germany

    E. Brinksmeier, R. Gläbe & C. Flucke

Authors
  1. E. Brinksmeier
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. Gläbe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. C. Flucke
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to C. Flucke.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Brinksmeier, E., Gläbe, R. & Flucke, C. Manufacturing of molds for replication of micro cube corner retroreflectors. Prod. Eng. Res. Devel. 2, 33–38 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11740-008-0082-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11740-008-0082-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation