Telecentric DLP optical engine for an optical-based 3D printer

A cost-effective telecentric digital light processing engine, utilizing a digital micromirror device, is proposed for an optical 3D printer. This work covers the design of the projection lens and beam homogenizer, along with full simulation and optimization through both sequential and non-sequential ray tracing. The lens holder was fabricated using a benchtop 3D printer, providing an affordable and efficient integration solution for the system. Optical characterization and 3D printing for different structures were performed. The resolution is 125 µm, a magnification is 13.5×, and the printing area is 80mm×13mm. The measured distortion was less than 1.6%.