Advances in precision microfabrication through digital light processing system development material and applications

This review focuses on developing equipment, materials, and processing for DLP in the realm of AM. The article provides an overview of commercially available DLP printers. It evaluates the strengths and limitations of existing systems in terms of high-resolution, large-area printing, multi-material printing, and high-speed printing. The working principle and mathematical models based on photo-polymerization under DLP are explained in detail, and the fundamental components of polymer interaction with the UV light source are elucidated. The composition of photopolymer resin is analyzed using theoretical models to describe the photocuring process under DLP. In addition, the article discusses the advanced microfabrication of living materials, hydrogels, and conventional photocurable resin for microfabrication, such as microfluidic chips. Despite the rapid development of DLP printing systems, this versatile microfabrication technology still faces significant challenges in achieving high-resolution, large-area printing and multi-material printing.