arXiv subjects

Jonathan Ericson

Publications and source records attributed to Jonathan Ericson.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Zero-waste manufacturing of ophthalmic lenses by direct Fluidic Shaping in arbitrary domains

The conventional manufacturing of ophthalmic lenses is an inefficient subtractive process where up to 97% of the material is discarded through grinding, polishing, and edging. Fluidic Shaping has emerged as a powerful alternative, utilizing surface tension to form optical-quality surfaces. While the approach enabled the creation of ophthalmic lenses without grinding or polishing, it was limited to lenses with a circular or elliptical footprint and still required the wasteful edging process to fit the lenses into the eyewear rims. Here, the Cookie Cutter algorithm is introduced, generalizing the Fluidic Shaping approach to be applicable to arbitrary domains, thus eliminating all subtractive processes. This mathematical framework calculates the unique varying edge-height required for a boundary frame, allowing a liquid polymer to naturally settle into a target spherocylindrical prescription within an arbitrary rim footprint. By utilizing neutral buoyancy to negate gravity, the liquid polymer is shaped solely by surface tension and subsequently cured, resulting in a lens that fits directly into commercial eyewear rims without any mechanical post-processing. The method is validated experimentally, demonstrating the fabrication of lenses compatible with standard eyewear rims. This approach represents a complete additive manufacturing solution, enabling end-to-end zero-waste production of prescription eyeglasses.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2026

Modeling the Thermal Behavior of Photopolymers for In-Space Fabrication

Future long-duration space missions will require in-situ, on-demand manufacturing of tools and components. Photopolymer-based processes are attractive for this purpose due to their low energy requirements, volume efficiency, and precise control of curing. However, photopolymerization generates significant heat, which is difficult to regulate in microgravity where natural convection is absent, leading to defects such as surface blistering and deformation. In this work, we combine experimental studies and modeling to address these thermal challenges. We report results from International Space Station (ISS) experiments and a dedicated parabolic flight campaign, which confirm that suppressed convective heat transfer in microgravity exacerbates thermal buildup and defect formation. Building on these observations, we present a predictive thermal model that couples heat transfer, light absorption, and evolving material properties to simulate polymerization and temperature evolution under terrestrial and microgravity conditions. Laboratory validation demonstrates strong agreement between model predictions and measured temperature profiles. Applying the model to the ISS experiments, we show that the model accurately reproduces experimentally observed blistering in TJ-3704A, a commercial acrylate-based polymer resin, while also predicting defect-free outcomes for Norland optical adhesives. The model functions as a design tool for defect-free in-space manufacturing, enabling selection of polymer properties, exposure strategies, and environmental conditions that together inhibit excess thermal buildup, paving the way for scalable, reliable in-situ manufacturing during future missions.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2025

In-space manufacturing of optical lenses: Fluidic Shaping aboard the International Space Station

In-space manufacturing technologies are vital for enabling advanced space missions and addressing logistical limitations of space exploration. While additive manufacturing has progressed rapidly, it still falls short of delivering the ultra-smooth surfaces required for optical elements. Fluidic Shaping is a novel method that harnesses surface tension under microgravity to form optical components with exceptionally smooth surfaces. This study demonstrates the feasibility and potential of Fluidic Shaping as a method for manufacturing optical components in space through two experiments performed aboard the International Space Station (ISS) during the Ax-1 mission. The first experiment involved fabricating centimeter-scale polymer lenses, solidifying them via ultraviolet (UV) curing, and analyzing the resultant optics upon their return to Earth. While sub-nanometric surface smoothness was achieved, some polymer lenses displayed unexpected thermo-chemical deformations, indicating complex polymerization dynamics unique to the microgravity environment. In the second experiment, a large-scale, 172 mm diameter water lens was deployed, confirming Fluidic Shaping's scalability and demonstrating basic optical functionality through image analysis. These experiments collectively underline the technique's relevance for both small-scale optics and large-aperture applications. Our results highlight critical considerations for future research, including optimizing polymerization processes and refining liquid-handling methods to advance practical, in-space optical manufacturing capabilities.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2022

Fluidic Shaping and in-situ Measurement of Liquid Lenses in Microgravity

In the absence of gravity, surface tension dominates over the behavior of liquids. While this often poses a challenge in adapting Earth-based technologies to space, it can also provide an opportunity for novel technologies that utilize its advantages. In particular, surface tension drives a liquid body to a constant-mean-curvature shape with extremely smooth surfaces, properties which are highly beneficial for optical components. We here present the design, implementation and analysis of parabolic flight experiments demonstrating the creation and in-situ measurement of optical lenses made entirely by shaping liquids in microgravity. We provide details of the two experimental systems designed to inject the precise amount of liquid within the short microgravity timeframe provided in a parabolic flight, while also measuring the resulting lens characteristics in real-time using both resolution target-imaging and a Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensing. We successfully created more than 20 liquid lenses during the flights. We also present video recordings of the process, from the lenses creation during microgravity and up until their collapse upon return to gravity. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that a purely liquid lens has been created in microgravity, which demonstrates the feasibility of creating and utilizing liquid-based optics in space.

physics.optics↗