Dimensional Accuracy and Repeatability of Mould Inserts Manufactured by Mask Projection Vat-Photopolymerization

Mask projection vat-photopolymerisation (MPVP) technology provides a method for additive manufacturing (AM) of high resolution surface features. In the present project, the technology is used to generate injection moulding inserts containing a double-curved freeform surface with bi-directional reflectance patterns (Fig. 1 & 2).

Orienting the anisotropic patterns by 0° and 90° relative to the viewing direction generates surface contrast with “dark” and “bright” areas (Fig. 5). This allows for incorporation of information barcodes in the polymer insert which subsequently replicates into every injection moulded part, e.g. enhanced product traceability, B2B information or end-user interaction.