Prototype Optics

Lens design software analyzes optical tolerances by modeling a perturbed optical system to capture the effect of simultaneous changes in manufacturing and alignment errors.

Optimax Systems uses this MRF process to correct aspheric lenses in transmission to subwavelength errors.

Cylinder manufacturing methods can influence specification, offering recommendations on what to consider when designing cylindrical optical components to minimize cost and allow for greater flexibility in manufacturing. 

There are parameters used in specifying centration of a lense and techniques used to check the location of and position the optical axis. Whether centering errors are specified in terms …

Prisms are optical components used to reflect or refract light. Their distinct characteristics give rise to its own language, the language of prisms. 

One design strategy for an optical system is centering two or more lenses together to build a lens assembly. However, strain in excess may cause delamination or fracture of the …

Selecting the material from which a lens is made is a fundamental design consideration. In certain situations, a substitute or equivalent material may need to be identified depending on the …

This paper will define surface irregularity for spherical surfaces, offer information on measurement methods for testing surface irregularities, and some specification guidelines.

Mechanical attribute tolerances can be a major cost driver because of time and yield penalties added to fabrication of a lens. Dimensions and their tolerances are interrelated, so designers need …

Centration errors arise from deviation from superposition. In a perfectly centered lens, the mechanical and optical axes are concurrent and coincidental, superimposed on each other.  

Mid-spacial frequency wavefront error, slope, and PVr have a big effect on optical component manufacturing. Specifying them can help reduce error. 

Phase-shifting interferometry is widely used to determine form errors of an optical surface in optical manufacturing. These distortions can affect the ability to get accurate data on thin film coated …

This paper will first detail where slope error originated from, what it represents and the role it plays in the optical performance.

This paper examines the role surface roughness plays in optical system performance, discusses the components of a surface roughness specification, and contrasts roughness with cosmetic defects.