Some milestones in the design, development, and manufacture of freeform optics

William T. Plummer

doi:10.1117/12.2505172

16 January 2019 Some milestones in the design, development, and manufacture of freeform optics

William T. Plummer

Proceedings Volume 10838, 9th International Symposium on Advanced Optical Manufacturing and Testing Technologies: Advanced Optical Manufacturing Technologies; 1083802 (2019) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2505172
Event: Ninth International Symposium on Advanced Optical Manufacturing and Testing Technologies (AOMATT2018), 2018, Chengdu, China

Abstract

Freeform optics are lenses or mirrors with surfaces having no rotational symmetry. They were conceived more than a century ago, but have recently received new attention for solving design problems. The special methods needed to manufacture them have included direct cam driven or digital grinding or milling, hot glass sagging, casting, injection molding, and fast-tool diamond turning. More recently, precision 3D printing and nanocrystalline powder compression molding have offered promising new capabilities for inexpensive high-volume commercial production in the future. Applications of freeform optics have included progressive spectacle lenses, focus adjusting devices, and aperture phase masks for special purposes. These design applications and manufacturing capabilities have been related to each other in interesting ways, and will be illustrated through a selection of patents and photographs of commercial products.

Citation Download Citation

William T. Plummer "Some milestones in the design, development, and manufacture of freeform optics", Proc. SPIE 10838, 9th International Symposium on Advanced Optical Manufacturing and Testing Technologies: Advanced Optical Manufacturing Technologies, 1083802 (16 January 2019); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2505172

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