Automatic manufacture of flexible LED lighting
Micro-products, especially those founded on LED-based lighting and displays, have a wide range of applications in the medical, consumer and automotive sectors. However, it has been difficult to produce these types of products in automated production processes in a cost-effective manner. An EU-funded research project, 'High-throughput production platform for the manufacture of light emitting components' (LIGHT-ROLLS), focused on the development of modular-based production line units for structures in the micron range suitable for fast self-assembly. The LIGHT-ROLLS manufacturing platform is based on Rapid Micro Product Development (RMPD) rotation, a patented process generating three-dimensional (3D) polymer structures based on a fast generative manufacturing approach. Other innovative techniques used in the new system include self-assembly chip and ink-jet printing procedures. Project members also developed accompanying information technology (IT) solutions to achieve the high degree of automation and quality control they needed. The developed system includes a high degree of flexibility. Although the LIGHT-ROLLS pilot line setup was for the fabrication of flexible LED-display systems, the techniques could be easily adapted to make other components like lab-on-a-chip or flexible solar cells. LIGHT-ROLLS' innovative new technologies have many potential applications and a large market. Thin 'light sheets' are very attractive as they require little space and should become cheaper and more reliable. Meanwhile, other areas such as life sciences and functional printing can benefit from these technologies, which enable the manufacture of micromechanical systems. These high-tech applications offer a wide range of opportunities for European business and society.
