Optical Fabrication
From material blanks to precision optical surfaces.
Optical Fabrication Capabilities
Optical fabrication turns material blanks into components with defined geometry, surface finish, and mounting dimensions. Strahl Optics coordinates shaping, grinding, polishing, and edge finishing for lenses, windows, prisms, and other optical components. The processing route is selected according to the material, component design, and specified optical and mechanical requirements.
Blank Shaping & Surface Generation
Initial shaping establishes the blank’s basic form before finer processing. Surface generation produces the preliminary curvature or flat geometry and brings the component toward its target thickness. Material removal is controlled to leave sufficient allowance for subsequent grinding and polishing.
Precision Grinding
Grinding refines the surface geometry and thickness established during initial shaping. For optical glass windows and optical glass prisms, this stage also prepares flat faces and controls the dimensional relationships between surfaces.
Successive grinding steps reduce machining marks and leave an appropriate allowance for polishing.
Optical Polishing
Polishing removes the fine texture left by grinding to produce a smooth optical surface. It brings the surface closer to the specified figure and reduces roughness to limit unwanted light scattering. The finished surface provides the basis for controlled transmission or reflection, depending on the component’s function and coating.
Centering & Edge Finishing
The component’s outer diameter and edge profile are finished to meet the dimensional requirements for mounting. In spherical lens manufacturing, centering brings the outer diameter into alignment with the optical axis, allowing the lens to be positioned correctly within its mount.
Bevels and chamfers remove sharp edges and reduce the risk of chipping during handling and assembly.
Fabrication Specifications
| Parameter | Typical Capability |
|---|---|
| Dimensional Tolerance | ±0.1 to ±0.05 mm |
| Center Thickness Tolerance | ±0.1 mm |
| Surface Quality (Scratch–Dig) | 60–40 to 20–10 |
| Surface Roughness | ≤2 nm RMS |
| Surface Flatness | λ/4@632.8nm |
| Surface Figure | λ to λ/8@632.8nm |
| Centration | ≤3 arcmin |
| Parallelism | <1 arcmin |
| Angular Tolerance | ±30 to ±5 arcsec |
| Clear Aperture | >90% of diameter or specified dimensions |
Specifications apply where relevant to the component geometry. Available tolerances depend on material, dimensions, and processing requirements. Final specifications are confirmed for each project.
Have an Optical Component Drawing?
Send us your drawing or specifications. Strahl Optics will review the material, geometry, and tolerances to confirm a suitable fabrication approach for your project.