Fabrication of microgrooves on a curved surface by the confocal measurement system using pulse laser and continuous laser

Rev Sci Instrum. 2012 Mar;83(3):033106. doi: 10.1063/1.3693702.

Abstract

In order to fabricate microgrooves on a curved surface, the curved surface was measured with a confocal system and then it was used for laser microprocessing. This paper proposes a new method of using a pulse laser for the confocal system to measure the curved surface. It also compares the conventional way of using a continuous laser and a new way of using the pulse laser with the confocal system. Using the data measured with the pulse laser for fabrication, microgrooves were fabricated on a curved surface. The width of the fabricated microgroove was 10 μm and the depth was 27 μm. The microgroove fabricated on a curved surface as a part of this study can be used in injection molding to manufacture a micropatterned plastic surface at a low cost. This plastic surface can be applied for a superhydrophobic surface, a self-cleaning surface, or a biochip.