Cost-effective 3D-printed rotatable reflectors for two-dimensional beam steering

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems)
• Additive Manufacturing

Background:

• Conventional galvanometer scanners are expensive for many applications.
• There is a need for cost-effective optical scanning solutions.
• Existing 2D scanning modules often lack detailed analysis of combined single-axis distortions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize a novel 2D optical scanning module using 3D-printed components.
• To investigate the performance and limitations of cascaded single-axis rotating mirrors.
• To explore the potential of this module as a low-cost alternative for applications like LiDAR.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a 2D optical scanning module with large-area, 3D-printed rotating mirrors (X: 30x30 mm², Y: 60x25 mm²).
• Utilized silicon substrates coated with aluminum as mirror surfaces.
• Actuation via DC voltage applied to electromagnets interacting with embedded permanent magnets.
• Experimental measurement of static optical scan angles and simulation of observed distortions.

Main Results:

• Achieved static optical scan angles of ~11.8° (X-axis) and ~4.5° (Y-axis) at 12 VDC.
• Observed and simulated a fan-shaped distortion resulting from the combination of single-axis scanners.
• Demonstrated correlation between simulation predictions and experimental results for the distortion.

Conclusions:

• The developed 3D-printed 2D optical scanning module offers a low-cost alternative to traditional scanners.
• The module shows potential for upgrading rangefinders to simplified LiDAR systems.
• Further research into understanding and mitigating scan distortions is warranted.