Here in, a high-quality automotive camera lens was developed based on an ultra-precision diamond turning core and cyclic olefin polymer (COP) injection molding process. To improve surface roughness and achieve the accuracy of plastic injection molding lens, systematic mold core machining process was developed and demonstrated using the diamond turning machine. The cutting tool path was generated by using NanoCAM 2D, and it was partly revised to prevent interference between the cutting tool and the workpiece. After the initial machining using the generated tool path, the compensation-cutting process was conducted based on the measured surface profile of an initially machined surface. After two times of compensation machining, the fabricated core mold showed a shape error of 100 nm between peak to valley (PV) and Arithmetic mean roughness (Ra) of 3.9 nm. The performance of the fabricated core was evaluated using an injection molding test. Injection molded aspheric plastic lens showed contrasts that were higher than 55% at 0.0 F, 30% at 0.3 F, and 20% at 0.7 F without any moiré phenomenon that meets the specification for automotive vision module with 1MP and 140° field of view.

3D images are generally manufactured by complex production processes. We suggested a simple method to make 3D images based on a mechanical machining technology in this study. We designed a tetrahedron consisted of many arcs having the depth of 100 ㎛ and the pitch of 500 ㎛, and machined them on an aluminum plate using end-milling under several conditions of feed-rate and depth of cut. The area of undeformed chip including depth of cut and feed-rate can predict quality of the machined arcs more precisely than the undeformed chip thickness including only feed rate. Moreover, a diamond tool can improve the quality than a CBN tool when many arcs are machined. Based on the analysis, the designed tetrahedron having many arcs was machined with no burr, and it showed different images when observed from the left and right directions. Therefore, it is verified that a 3D image can be designed and manufactured on a metal plate by end-milling under optimized machining conditions.

Recently in the display industry, demands for high-luminance and resolution of display devices have been steadily increasing. Generally, micro linear patterns are applied to an optical film in order to improve its properties of light. However, these patterns are easily viewed to eyes and moire phenomenon can be occurred. Micro random patterns are proposed as a method to solve these problems, increasing light-luminance and light-diffusion. However, conventional pattern manufacturing technologies have long processing times and high costs making it difficult to apply to large area molds. In order to combat this issue, micro-random patterns are formed by using a roll to plate indentation method along with abrasive paper tools composed of AlSiO2, SiC, and diamond grains. Also, forming properties, such as size and fill-factor of random patterns, are analyzed depending on type, mesh of abrasive paper tools, and indentation forces.

Lithography techniques are generally used to manufacture nano-patterns on silicon, however, it is difficult to make a V-shaped pattern using these techniques. Although silicon is a brittle material, it can be treated as a ductile material if mechanically machined at extremely low force scale. The manufacturing technique of nano-patterns on single crystal silicon using a mechanical method was developed in this study. First, the linear pattern was machined on the silicon with increasing thrust force. Then, the correlation between measured cutting force and machined pattern was analyzed. Based on the analysis, the critical thrust force was quantitatively determined, and then the silicon was machined at a force lower than the critical thrust force. The machined pattern was observed using SEM and AFM to check for the occurrence of brittle fractures. Finally, the sharp V-shaped nano-pattern was manufactured on the single crystal silicon.

Micro/nano patterns for optical concentration and diffusion have been studied in the various fields such as displays, optics, and sensors. Conventional micro patterns were continuous and linear shapes due to using linear-type light sources, however, recently non-continuous patterns have been applied as point sources are used for dot-type light sources such as LEDs and OLEDs. In this study, a hybrid machining technology combining an indentation machining method and an AAO process was developed for manufacturing the non-continuous micro patterns having nano patterns. First, mirror-like surfaces (R<SUB>a</SUB><20nm) of pure Aluminum substrates were obtained by optimizing cutting conditions. Then, The letter of ‘K’ consisting of the arrays of the micro patterns was manufactured by the indentation machining method which has a similar principle to indentation hardness testing. Finally, nano patterns were machined by AAO process on the micro patterns. Conclusively, a specific letter having nano-micro hybrid patterns was manufactured in this study.

The micro barrier rip array structures have been applied in a variety of areas including as privacy films, micro heat sinks, touch panel and optical waveguide. The increased aspect ratio (AR) of barrier rip array structures is required in order to increase the efficiency and performance of these products. There are several problems such as burr, defect of surface roughness and deformation and breakage of barrier rip structure with machining high-aspect ratio micro barrier rip array structure using orthogonal cutting method. It is essential to develop technological methods to solve these problems. The optimum machining conditions for machining micro barrier rip array structures having high-aspect ratio were determined according to lengths (200 μm and 600 μm) and shape angles (2.89° and 0°) of diamond tool, overlapped cutting depths (5 μm and 10 μm), feed rates (100 mm/s) and three machining processes. Based on the optimum machining conditions, micro barrier rib array structures having aspect ratio 30 was machined in this study.

Micro structures which are widely used at various fields are commonly fabricated by lithograph, etching and laser methods. Recently, with the emergence of micro tools and ultra-precision machine tools, fabrication of the micro structures obtained using end-milling are studied. However, there are some problems due to the diameter of the micro end-mill getting smaller below 100 μm. The micro run-out resulted from miniaturization of end-mills have influence seriously on accuracy of micro structures. The error of run-out with a tooling jig showed a decrease of about 9.3 μm. Furthermore, micro structures with width of 30 μm could be applied through experiments of slot machining obtained using 30 and 50 μm end-mill. Also, narrow angle structures with 30° angle could be applied through analysis of machining acute angle structures. Based on basic experiments, micro fluidics channels and spiral patterns for air bearing were machined.