CPC B29D 11/00307 (2013.01) [B29C 43/021 (2013.01); B29C 43/38 (2013.01); B29C 64/112 (2017.08); B29C 64/188 (2017.08); B29C 64/30 (2017.08); B29C 64/379 (2017.08); B29D 11/00298 (2013.01); B29D 11/00365 (2013.01); B29D 11/00413 (2013.01); G02B 3/0075 (2013.01); B29L 2011/0016 (2013.01)] | 4 Claims |
1. A method of manufacturing a plurality of optical elements, the method comprising:
providing a substrate;
providing a tool comprising, on a replication side thereof, a plurality of replication sections, each of the replication sections configured to define a surface structure of a respective one of the optical elements, the tool further comprising at least one contact spacer portion, the at least one contact spacer portion protruding, on the replication side, further than an outermost feature of the replication sections;
aligning the tool and the substrate with respect to each other and bringing the tool and a first side of the substrate together, with replication material arranged between the tool and the substrate, the at least one contact spacer portion contacting the first side of the substrate, and thereby causing the at least one contact spacer portion to adhere to the first side of the substrate and shaping the replication material into the optical elements, wherein the optical elements abut yard line features arranged on the first side of the substrate around at least a portion of the replication sections with the tool and substrate brought together, the yard line features acting as a fluid barrier for the replication material forming the optical elements;
hardening the shaped replication material;
separating the tool from the substrate with the hardened replication material and the at least one contact spacer portion adhering to the substrate; and
removing the yard line features from the first side of the substrate.
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