| abstract |
A system for three-dimensional (3D) optical trap printing (OTP) comprises a first particle susceptible to being cured by a light beam, a first light source to generate a trapping light beam to trap the particle, and a second light source to generate a curing light beam to cure the first particle. Using scanning and other optics, the trapping light beam may move the first particle to a desired printing location at which the curing light beam may cure the first particle, thereby adding the first particle to a printed structure. Using OTP, structures may be printed in any orientation, with or without support structures. Additionally, OTP allows for printing composite materials, high resolution color printing, printing of complex structures without sacrificial filler material, simultaneous printing of multiple particles, and combining particles at a print location. |