Molding / Imprinting Machine Core Technologies

High speed-uniform heating via an infrared lamp and high positioning accuracy of a mold are realized. Combined with pressing force control, heating / cooling temperature control, and high precision mold manufacturing technology, this have realized a reduction of a post processing such as polishing, etc. on the production process of high precision glass elements such as aspheric glass lenses, etc.

Original company made CNC system is equipped, the individual process settings of heating, pressing, positioning, and cooling are easy to operate as well as monitorable, and high quality molding with a high level of reproducibility that is easy for an operator is realized.

With plastic mold manufacturing technology accumulated over many years for injection molding machines as a base, the strict selection of mold materials optimal for glass molding and coating technology development has realized high quality and longevity for molds. Moreover, due to the high precision machining and related application-engineering made possible by the Aspheric & Free-form Surface Grinder ULC/ULG series, the leading product of this division, molded products with high precision and sub-micrometer scale form have been realized, and high praise is being garnered from customers.

To support imprinting on a warped substrate or depositing defect substrate, a flexible resin mold is used in order to enable imprinting with high accuracy of form and less dispersion of residual resin layer.   
Film mode can be created by the roll-to-roll imprinting machine.

Positioning errors can be measured by monitoring each alignment mark of the substrate and the mold. Alignment is adjusted by shifting the substrate or mold on the XYΘ stage. By monitoring right and left alignment marks, swiveling position can also be aligned with Θ axis.
Furthermore, dedicated control software can be used for automatic alignment.

Depending on the quality of resin used, three types of molding methods are available: UV imprinting that uses UV curable resin; Thermal imprinting that uses thermosetting or thermoplastic resin; and room temperature imprinting that pressure curable resin such as SOG. 
The ST machine is fully customizable according to the resin used.