Mass production of augmented reality (AR) waveguides has been challenging due to the intricate nature of the fabrication technique and the high precision required for its optical characteristics. In this paper, we have presented a novel and low-cost approach for fabricating geometric optical waveguides designed for AR applications utilizing 3D printing techniques. To strike a balance between optical performance and fabrication feasibility, we have optimized the conventional geometric waveguide design to facilitate easier fabrication. It is worth noting that our proposed method does not require molding, dicing, and post-surface polishing after printing. A prototype based on this method has been successfully fabricated, showing the immersion between the virtual image and the real-world scene. The proposed method has great potential for adaptation to mass production in various AR applications.

翻译：增强现实（AR）波导的大规模生产一直面临挑战，这主要源于其制造工艺的复杂性以及对光学特性所需的高精度要求。本文提出了一种新颖且低成本的方法，利用3D打印技术制造专用于增强现实应用的几何光学波导。为了在光学性能与制造可行性之间取得平衡，我们优化了传统几何波导设计以简化制造工艺。值得注意的是，本方法无需在打印后使用模具、切割以及表面抛光。基于该方法成功制造的原型展示了虚拟图像与现实场景的融合效果。该方法在各类AR应用的大规模生产方面具有极大的适配潜力。