Glass molding press is an efficient manufacturing technology to fabricate microstructures on glass. To optimize the experimental conditions for precision replication of periodic microstructures with different pitch sizes, Finite Element Method (FEM) simulation and experiments were carried out to study the glass molding press process. First, the effects of the change in pitch size on stress and geometrical replicating accuracy were evaluated. Thereafter, glass molding experiments were carried out to form microstructures on the glass surface, and the molded microstructures were measured. By comparing the simulation results with experimental results, the FEM simulation was experimentally verified, and the optimal machining conditions were obtained and discussed.

1. [1] C. Evans and J. Bryan, ““Structured”, “textured” or “engineered” surfaces,” CIRP Annual 1999, Vol.48, pp. 541-56.
2. [2] CH. Chao, SC. Shen, and JR. Wu, “Fabrication of 3-D submicron glass structures by FIB,” J. of Materials Engineering and Performance 2009, Vol.18, pp. 878-85.
3. [3] Y. Lin and J. Hu, “An improved vector model for analyzing the diffraction field of sub-wavelength diffractive optical elements,” Optik – Int. J. for Light and Electron Optics, Vol.121, pp. 1337-1341, Aug. 2010.
4. [4] J. Masuda, J. Yan, and T. Kuriyagawa, “Application of the NiPplated steel molds to glass lens molding,” Proc. of the 10th Int. Symp. on advances in abrasive technology. 2007, pp. 123-30.
5. [5] D. Fischbach et al, “Investigation of the effects of process parameters on the glass-to-mold sticking force during precision glass molding,” Surface and Coating technology, Vol.205, pp. 312-319.
6. [6] J. Yan, T. Oowada, T. Zhou, and T. Kuriyagawa, “Precision machining of microstructures on electroless-plated NiP surface for molding glass components,” J. of Materials Processing Technology, Vol.209, Issue 1, pp. 4802-4808, Jun. 2009.
7. [7] A. C. Pipkin, “Lectures on viscoelasticity theory,” Springer-Verlag, New York, 1972.
8. [8] O. S. Narayanaswany, “A Model of Structural Relaxation in Glass,” J. of the American Ceramic Society, Vol.54, No.10, pp. 491-498.
9. [9] L-BAL42,
   http://www.ohara-inc.co.jp/jp/product/optical/dl/data/jlbal42.pdf,
   Ohara Inc. [accessed March 29, 2013]
10. [10] T. Zhou, J. Yan, J. Masuda, and T. Kuriyagawa. “Investigation on the viscoelasticity of optical glass in ultraprecision lens molding process,” J. of Materials Processing Technology, Vol.209, No.9, pp. 4484-4489.
11. [11] S. Ozaki and C. Itou. “Proposal of FE Analysis Method for Stickslip Motion,” JSME annual meeting Vol.4, September 4, 201, pp. 79-80.
12. [12] T. Zhou, J. Yan, Z. Liang, X. Wang, R. Kobayashi, and T. Kuriyagawa “Development of Polycrystalline Ni-P Mold by Heat Treatment for Glass Microgroove Forming.” (umpublished)
13. [13] Sumita Optical Glass, Inc.,
    http://www.sumita-opt.co.jp/ja/download/index.html,
    Sumita Optical Glass, Inc. [Data download, March 29, 2013]
14. [14] M. Takahashi, Y. Murakoshi, R. Maeda, and K, Hasegawa. “Large area microhot embossing of pyrex glass with GC mold machined by dicing,” Microsystem Technologies, Vol.13, No.3, pp. 379-84.