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Optimax has documented various subject matters in key areas of interest that are essential to manufacturing optics; such as tolerancing, machining technology, and metrology. Explanation of processes, what is behind the process, and how to improve the processes are recorded in technical notes, articles, and white papers. If you desire more information than what is offered here, please contact sales@optimaxsi.com and a Manufacturing Engineer will be in touch with you.

There is a lot of data presented in the papers below. Expand each list for a complete selection of papers and abstracts.

= Book Excerpt         = Technical Note         = Conference Proceeding         = Article

• Lens Tolerancing and Inspection
  • Most Recent Papers
    • Role of Surface Roughness In Optical Performance
      • This paper examines the role surface roughness plays in optical system performance, discusses the components of a surface roughness speciifcation, and contrasts roughness with cosmetic defects.
    • Specifying and Measuring Slope Error of Optical Surface
      • This paper will first detail where slope error originated from, what it represents and the role it plays in the optical performance.
    • Specifying, Applying and Measuring Thin Film Coating
      • This paper will explain general process of specifying, applying and measuring thin film coating.
    • Cylinder Manufacturing Considerations
      • This paper will look at how cylinder manufacturing methods can influence specification, offering recommendations on what to consider when designing.
    • The Effect Of Phase Distortion On...Thin Film Coated Optical Surfaces
      • This paper discusses difficulty in accurately interpreting surface form data from a phase shifting interferometer measurement of a thin film interference coated surfaces.
  • More Papers
    • The Cost of Tolerancing
      • In this paper, methodologies for assessing design robustness and tolerancing optical systems are covered.
    • Specifying More Than Peak to Valley
      • Michael G. Martucci, 'Specifying More Than Peak to Valley,' in Frontiers in Optics (FiO)/Laser Science (LS) (Optical Society of America, Washington, DC, 2010), FThX3
    • Specifying and Modeling as-Built Centration Errors for Singlets and Cemented Doublets
      • Brandon Light, 'Specifying And Modeling As-Built Centration Errors For Singlets And Cemented Doublets,' in Frontiers in Optics (FiO)/Laser Science (LS) (Optical Society of America, Washington, DC, 2010), FThX7
    • The Mechanical Attributes of a Lens
      • This paper will explain the role mechanical attribute tolerancing plays in balancing lens function and cost and will help in choosing an optimum tolerance.
    • Radius Tolerancing
      • This paper will reveiw tolerancing schemes for spherical radii, including the historical origins.
    • Surface Irregularity
      • This paper will define surface irregularity and how it is measured, the history of surface irregularity tolerancing and metrology and modern methods of testing and analyzing, and will present the impact on manufacturing optics.
    • Optical Glass: Substitutes Versus Equivalents
      • This paper details the motivation for selecting alternate optical materials within an established design and offers considerations when doing so.
    • Considerations in Manufacturing Cemented Assemblies
      • This paper will examine options in construction of cemented lens assemblies, and considerations for mechanical mounting and cement selection will be offered.
    • Assembly Method Considerations for Cemented Assemblies
      • This paper will examine options in assembly methods of cemented lens assemblies, and techniques for communicating critical items will be presented.
    • The Language Of Prisms
      • This paper will explain terms unique to prism manufacturing, explaining when they are useful.
    • Lens-Edging Tolerance
      • This article focuses on edge thickness difference (ETD) as a common callout that relates to the amount of acceptable beam-deviation error for lenses.
    • Useful Estimations and Rules of Thumb for Optomechanics
      • In this paper by Katie Schwertz, the estimation or rule of thumb is concisely stated. A corresponding equation, if applicable, is also included. Relevant background information is presented to the reader to give context as to when this rule can be applied. The details of how the rule should be applied and when it is useful are also discussed.
    • Optical System Design - Optical Manufacturing Considerations
      • This text assumes the manufacture of a precision glass lens of approximately 50mm diameter using grinding and polishing techniques, taking into consideration optical material, component size, shape, and manufacturing tolerances.
    • Centration Tolerances
      • This paper defines and details the parameters used in specifying centration of a lens and techniques used to check location of and position the optical axis.
    • The Sum of All Errors
      • magnetorheological Finishing (MRF) offers an effective way for correcting transmitted wavefront of lenses. Optimax Systems uses this MRF process to correct aspheric lenses in transmission to subwavelength errors.
    • Further reading from Zemax:
      • How to Tolerance for Element Roll
• Aspheric Optics
  • Most Recent Papers
    • Introduction to Asphere Metrology
      • This paper outlines the numerous metrology options for aspheres, including how they work, any requirements, and what is specified with each method in an effort to help reasonably tolerance aspheres.
    • Aspheric glass lens modeling and machining
      • In this paper by Barry Johnson, the evolution of the manufacturing technology is discussed for a specific aspheric glass lens.
    • Asphere Manufacturing Considerations for the Designer
      • Mark Schickler, Robert Wiederhold, Michael Mandina, 'Asphere Manufacturing Considerations for the Designer,' in Frontiers in Optics (FiO)/Laser Science (LS) (Optical Society of America, Washington, DC, 2010) FThX4
  • Other Papers
    • Specifying, Manufacturing and Measuring Aspheric Lens - Part I
      • This paper gives a basic survey of specifying aspheric forms, their function, and their manufacturing and testing.
    • Specifying, Manufacturing and Measuring Aspheric Lens - Part II
      • This paper highlights the similarities and differences between tolerancing, manufacturing and measuring spherical and aspheric surfaces.
    • Asphere Metrology Matrix
      • This matrix provides information and guidelines on the metrology used when tolerancing a lens.
• Innovative Optics Manufacturing
  • Most Recent Papers
    • VIBE™ Rapid Polishing Process to Smooth Optical Surfaces
      • The VIBE process is a full-aperture, conformal polishing process that uses high-frequency, random motion to rapidly remove sub-surface damage and eliminate mid-spatial-frequency surface errors. The process can also be used as a finishing step after deterministic sub-aperture polishing.
    • R&D and the Optics Manufacturing Shop Floor
      • Andrew A. Haefner, Robert R. Wiederhold, Michael P. Mandina, Jessica DeGroote Nelson, 'R&D on the Optics Manufacturing Shop Floor,' in Frontiers in Optics (FiO)/Laser Science (LS) (Optical Society of America, Washington, DC, 2010), FThP4
    • VIBE™ finishing to remove mid-spatial frequency ripple
      • The VIBE™ process is a full aperture, conformal polishing process incorporating high frequency and random motion designed to rapidly remove sub-surface damage in a VIBE pre-polish step and eliminate mid-spatial frequency (MSF) errors in a VIBE finishing step.
    • Varying electro-kinetic interactions to achieve ..... on ZnS
      • This paper will serve as a baseline for developing an empirical model for optimizing both surface roughness and removal rate for two different types of abrasives and two pitch types with ZnS. SPIE Optical Manufacutring Testing VIII (2009).
    • Increased UV transmission by improving the manufacturing process for FS
      • In this paper, a four-phased project to increase the performance of UV optics is discussed. SPIE Optical Manufacutring Testing VIII (2009).
    • Advances in ALON™ Optical Component Fabrication
      • This paper discusses how to reduce the overall ALON fabrication time by improving the rate and quality of the conventional grinding steps. EMWS (2008)
  • Other Papers
    • Round Robin Testing of the Optimax Optidome
      • OptiDomes are six-inch concentric F/0.53 spherical fused silica domes manufactured by Optimax Systems, Inc. The purpose of these domes is to act as a standard for metrology testing of various testing methods for measuring the surface quality, mechanical attributes and/or the transmitted wave-front error of hemispherical/spherical domes. Each of the OptiDomes was fabricated to pre-specified quality levels including domes that have induced errors. This paper gives additional manufacturing information, detailed handling instructions, procurement information as well as initial measurement results.
    • Vibe: A New Process for High Speed Polishing of Optical Elements
      • The concept for polishing optical elements with a process called VIBE is presented, application to non uniformly sloped optics such as aspheric shapes is detailed, and initial results on spherical surfaces are presented.
    • Transmitted Wavefront Error Correction
      • This paper discusses why tolerancing optical lenses in transmission rather than reflection offers financial, performance and delivery advantages for a given class of aspheric optics.
    • Better Polishing through Chemistry
      • This paper discusses how learning the chemical aspects of optical polishing can lead to better optics in less time. - J.E. Degroote "Better Polishing through Chemistry," OPN, July/August, 10-12 (2008)
    • Specification and Control of Mid-Spatial Frequency Wavefront Errors in Optical Systems
      • This paper is an introduction to the specification and tolerancing of Mid-spatial frequency (MSF) ripple or waviness. OSA OF&T (2008) - D.A. Aikens, J.E. DeGroote and R.N. Youngworth, 'Specification and Control of Mid-Spatial Frequency Wavefront Errors in Optical Systems,' in Frontiers in Optics 2008/Laser Science XXIV/Plasmonics and Metamaterials/Optical Fabrication and Testing on CD-ROM, Optical Society of America, Washington DC, 2008, OTuA1
    • Manufacturability study of CLEARCERAM® (T008) compared to other low CTE materials
      • This paper gives a comparison of CLEARCERAM® thermal properties as well as the manufacturability using traditional grinding and polishing methods. OSA OF&T (2008) - C. Ghio, K. Nakajima and J. DeGroote, 'Manufacturability study of CLEARCERAM®(T008) compared to other low CTE materials,' in Frontiers in Optics 2008/Laser Science XXIV/Plasmonics and Metamaterials/Optical Fabrication and Testing on CD-ROM, Optical Society of America, Washington DC, 2008, OThC4
    • Zygo's PVr Software provides more accurate surface metrology data:
      • AN-0037A PVr - A Robust Amplitude Parameter
        • This Zygo application note provides an overview of PVr and describes the benefits in using PVr to specify optical surfaces
      • AN-0040A Understanding the PV Specification 102008
        • This Zygo application note speaks to the specification for optical surfaces PVr being independent of detectors and operator differences, making it a robust specification that provides essentially the same result over a wide range of measurement conditions.
      • 0904 PVr Optical Engineering
        • This Zygo article speaks to PVr being a newly proposed robust amplitude parameter that provides automatic filtering, is insensitive to system resolution, and relates directly to imaging performance via the Marechal criterion.
• Business Leadership
  • Most Recent Papers
    • 20 Years of Innovation - Rochester Engineering Society Magazine
      • Founded in 1991, Optimax was one of the first optics manufacturers to use computer-controlled machining for the fabrication of optical components, reducing manufacturing time from 10 weeks to five days.
    • Optimax Case Study by Hitachi
      • As a result of placing in the top 20 of Inc. Magazine's and Winning Workplaces 2010 Top Small Company Workplaces Competition, Optimax was contacted by the Hitachi Foundation to participate in a case study. This case study highlights Opitmax's good workplace practices.
    • Operating A Business
      • This Rochester Business Alliance article speaks of Mike Mandina's innovative leadership and 'in the trenches' management style.
    • Optimax' Fun-Loving CEO
      • This Rochester Business Allisance article speaks of Rick Plympton's philosophy and career objectives to promote optics that benefit mankind - and have fun doing it.
    • MCC and Optics Manufacturers Launch New Job Training Program
      • MCC and optics manufacturers in the Rochester region announced a partnership to offer a new industry-certified training program that will match students to job openings. - MCC Technical Education News
  • Other Papers
    • Many gain from one MBA grad's classroom experience
      • A master's degree in business administration offers personal and professional benefits to those whove earned them and their co-workers. - An RBJ interview including Mike Mandina and Rick Plympton
    • Optimax and the Birth of Rapid Prototyping
      • This paper, written by Optimax, tells the story of how Optimax was founded and how we are able to support "Prototype Optics in 1 Week!".
    • Value Proposition and Total Cost of Ownership
      • This paper, written by Optimax, explains how the total cost of a part is calculated over its entire lifespan. By investing in higher quality and reliability, total cost decreases as supporting costs become less necessary.

= Book Excerpt         = Technical Note         = Conference Proceeding         = Article