Preliminary Fabrication Capabilities of a 2-Axis Photolithography System Based on Optical Drive Motors and Laser Diodes

Photopolymerization methods such as multiphoton polymerization have been used successfully to create bioactive patterned scaffolds with micron-scale resolution capable of supporting cell growth and differentiation for engineered tissue. [1] They have also been shown effective for fabrication of a variety of MEMS devices. [2] Currently, multiphoton polymerization and similar technologies require a bulky and expensive optical system based on a femto- or picosecond pulsed laser and an XYZ arrangement of high-resolution translating stages. [3] Such systems are currently prohibitive in both cost and effort required to assemble, calibrate, and maintain. Consolidating optical components and motors into a smaller, less-complex device may facilitate the manufacture of customized tissue engineered constructs and MEMS devices on-site in more remote locations on an as-needed basis.