Compared with the conventional compound eye processing method, a new fabrication method-namely, a mold casting method-was presented. This method is simple, low-cost, easy to implement, and can be reused. A bionic compound eye array model with 61 ommatidia arranged inhomogeneously onto a curved surface was fabricated. The curved surface had a radius of 9 mm and a thickness of 0.5 mm. The margin imaging quality was improved significantly by the analysis of light beam focus and the optical imaging properties of the fabricated compound eye. The sub-image of each ommatidium had a high resolution. There was 5% error between the collecting spot brightness and simulation analysis results, which proved that the production method is feasible.
Keywords: compound eye; microfabrication; mold; polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS).