Light & Engineering Vol. 23, No. 4, pp. 88-90, 2015 Svetotekhnika No. 1, 2016 APPLICATION OF ADDITIVE TECHNOLOGIES IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FIBER OPTIC SPLITTERS Alexei N. Lomanov*, Vladimir S. Nikitin, Alexander V. Solostin1, Ernst I. Semyonov*, and Sergei V. Chayka NTZ Introfi zika LLC, Russia, Yroslavl Region, Rybinsk *Rybinsk State Aviation Technical University (RSATU), Russia, Yaroslavl Region, Rybinsk 1E-mail: 21solo@mail.ru ABSTRACT Optical splitters are widely used in various lighting equipment, illumination and information systems, fi ber-optic sensors, and multi-channel smart link connections. <...> NTZ Introfi zika LLC developed a fiber optic splitter without the elements listed above, one that can be manufactured using additive technologies. <...> Keywords: optical splitter, light output, optical fi ber, laser stereolithography, fused deposition modeling INTRODUCTION NTZ Introfizika LLC is currently developing multi-channel optical splitters utilizing 3D printing technology. <...> The use of modern 3D prototyping technologies and polymer optical fibers as a fi lament for 3D printers allows the manufacture of high-quality optical details that do not require complex technological operations in terms of production and adjustment. <...> Multi-channel optical splitter diagram A multi-channel optical splitter consists of several immediately adjacent plates formed by individual optical fi bers printed using a 3D printer. <...> Two types of plates are used to split the light output in two: plates of different shapes with rounded terminal ends are arranged alternately. <...> The other sides form separate butt ends ending where the light output splits. <...> It is advisable to manufacture the body of a splitter using digital light processing (DLP), which is a variety of stereolithography (SLA) [2]. <...> An SLAbased Miicraft printer was used to manufacture a splitter body. <...> The printer features printing resolution up to 5 microns, which is important as it allows the manufacturing of miniature high-quality details. <...> Despite the relative simplicity and low cost of the DLP technology, its application in the manufacturing of optical fi ber plates has proved <...>