Presentation of the Innovation Award to Nanoscribe: Representatives and jurors of the LASER World of Photonics, Dr. Wilhelm Kaenders (TOPTICA Photonics AG); Johannes Lang, André Radke, Dr. Timo Gissibl, Martin Hermatschweiler, Dr. Michael Thiel (Nanoscribe GmbH); representatives of the sponsor Europa Science (LTR, photo: Chris Frühe)
The Nanoscribe GmbH, a provider of solutions for additive nano- and microfabrication, received the Innovation award for its Quantum X Maskless Lithography system last week at the LASER World of Photonics trade fair in Munich. The award is sponsored by the trade fair and the British specialist publisher Europa Science and honours the innovation and performance of the Nanoscribe Quantum X. The device was designed for the industrial manufacture of refractive and diffractive micro-optics. The jury saw the potential for a new chapter in microfabrication in this machine.
"We are very excited to hold the Innovation Award in our hands today," said Martin Hermatschweiler, CEO of Nanoscribe, after the award ceremony. "After a very intensive technical development phase, this is a great recognition for our team and for the outstanding performance of our new maskless lithography system Quantum X."
The new machine features a touchscreen control panel, automatically controlled printing processes, interfaces for remote control and an advanced organization of print jobs. It also includes live-view cameras for real-time monitoring of the printing process. The heart of the new device is, however, a newly developed printing technology: Nanoscribe’s patent-pending Two-Photon Grayscale Lithography (2GL) is in use for the first time in Quantum X.
With 2GL, Nanoscribe combines the performance of Grayscale Lithography with the precision and flexibility of Two-Photon Polymerization in an industrial form factor. The system is characterized by high printing speeds, design freedom and high precision. These features are especially important for creating complex structures with shape accuracy and smooth surfaces. The structures can serve as prototypes as well as masters for reproduction in industrial processes.