US-based microfabrication foundry Atomica has launched a platform designed to simplify the development and manufacture of complex optical devices. Announced on 22 September 2026, Atomica’s MEMS Optical Control Platform provides a configurable set of pre-developed manufacturing processes intended to shorten development cycles for components used in AI, LiDAR and medical imaging.
The platform separates two related tasks: designing a product and developing the manufacturing processes needed to produce it. By providing standardised, reusable microfabrication modules, Atomica aims to let customers focus on device performance without having to develop every manufacturing process from scratch.
Atomica introduces a platform for MEMS optical devices
Developing a new optical device requires engineering work on both the device itself and the processes needed to manufacture it. Atomica’s platform is intended to reduce the manufacturing-development workload by providing reusable process modules. This approach allows engineers to concentrate on the geometry, materials and optical features that determine a device’s function and performance.
This is particularly relevant to devices that rely on controlled movement at microscopic scales. An optical switch in an AI data centre may redirect light between data paths, while a LiDAR system scans its surroundings. Both applications can require precise physical movement or alignment. The platform provides reusable manufacturing processes while allowing customers to develop device designs suited to their individual applications.
Atomica CEO Eldon Klaassen said the platform was designed to give customers greater flexibility in developing optical and sensing devices. “Atomica gives customers the freedom to innovate in optical and sensing devices without reinventing the manufacturing process,” he stated. The modular approach is intended to accommodate different device requirements.
Klaassen added, “They need the freedom to pursue those designs without taking on every fabrication challenge as a new engineering problem.”
Overcoming the limits of conventional assembly
As optical devices become smaller, conventional mechanical assembly can become more difficult and costly. Achieving sub-micron precision consistently and economically can be challenging with conventional assembly methods. MEMS technology can address this challenge by integrating mechanical and optical features into microfabricated structures.
By fabricating mechanical and optical features into materials such as silicon, glass and dielectric films, MEMS processes can provide precise, integrated structures. The platform provides reusable process modules for manufacturing structures such as movable mirrors, actuators, tunable membranes and optical cavities. The approach shifts some of the precision work from manual assembly to wafer-based fabrication processes. These processes can support devices used in optical sensing, industrial automation and other applications.
Atomica operates a 30,000-square-foot Class 100 cleanroom near Santa Barbara, California, for microfabrication work. The cleanroom supports the fabrication of micron-scale structures. However, manufacturing yields and product consistency will depend on the specific process, device design and production conditions.
Atomica states that its facility is ISO 9001-certified and registered under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). These credentials may be relevant to customers working in regulated sectors, including defence and aerospace.
Six core building blocks for optical devices
The platform comprises six reusable module families that customers can use individually or combine with application-specific features. The modules are intended to support development from initial design through to manufacturing
The core module families
The modules include micromirrors for applications such as beam steering, LiDAR scanning and optical switching. Comb-drive actuators can use electrostatic forces to move micromirrors. The resulting movement can be used in dynamic optical systems, depending on the device design.
Diaphragms and tunable membranes can be used in devices requiring adjustable optical properties or tunable cavities. Depending on their design, these structures can deform to change optical path length or focal properties. Microlenses can also be fabricated on a wafer to shape light and support the integration of optical components.
Silicon optical benches can provide a base for positioning and integrating optical elements. Wafer-level packaging allows devices to be enclosed or sealed before the wafer is diced into individual chips. The process can reduce the need for some later packaging operations, depending on the design
Enabling next-generation systems from AI to AR
The platform could support devices for several applications, including AI infrastructure, LiDAR, medical imaging and AR/VR. In AI infrastructure, MEMS-based optical circuit switches can redirect optical signals between data paths. Their power consumption depends on the design and operating conditions of the complete switching system. Optical switching is one technology being developed to support data movement in large AI computing systems.
LiDAR is used in some autonomous vehicles and robotic systems for three-dimensional sensing. MEMS micromirrors and scanning mechanisms can be used in LiDAR systems. Their effects on size, reliability and cost depend on the implementation. Potential medical applications include optical coherence tomography (OCT) probes and tunable filters used in imaging or diagnostic equipment.
Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR) headsets also stand to benefit, as they require compact and efficient ways to project and manipulate light to create immersive displays. Atomica says its reusable manufacturing processes are intended to shorten development timelines for optical devices used in AR/VR systems
The company also uses modelling and engineering analysis to assess interactions between components. For example, a mirror coating may affect deformation under thermal loading, while packaging can influence optical alignment. Atomica says early modelling can help identify integration issues before production, potentially reducing the risk of redesigns and delays.
A cohesive strategy for micro-device fabrication
The MEMS Optical Control Platform forms part of Atomica’s wider portfolio of microfabrication services. Other offerings include platforms for AI optical connectivity, photonic integration and physical AI sensors. The portfolio covers several stages of microfabrication, from optical connectivity and photonic integration to sensing.
Customers may be able to combine capabilities across the portfolio, including optical control, photonic integration, sensors and biotechnology microdevices. Atomica says it supports customers from initial concept and feasibility studies through engineering samples, qualification and high-volume production.
Atomica identifies five areas of focus: engineering collaboration, process standardisation, modelling and simulation, AI-assisted optimisation of factory operations, and proprietary fabrication technology. Atomica says these capabilities are intended to reduce the technical and manufacturing risks involved in commercialising new MEMS and photonic devices.
The platform reflects Atomica’s focus on manufacturing components for optical and sensing systems used in AI and other applications. The platform is intended to support the manufacture of optical and sensing components used in data communications and systems that interact with the physical environment.
