Aspheric Manufacturing

Manufacturing in US and Singapore
Stock and Custom, from Design and Prototype to Volume Production
Build-to-Print Capabilities
Over 600 Aspheric Lens Designs Available for Immediate Delivery
MRF Fine Finishing Consistently Exceeding λ/40 Surface Accuracy

Edmund Optics^® is a recognized leader in aspheric lens manufacturing, with extensive experience producing aspheric lenses for ophthalmic instruments, surgical devices, analytical instruments, and defense applications. Edmund Optics^®’ high volume aspheric lens manufacturing cell operates 24 hours a day to produce thousands of precision aspheric lenses per month. Our manufacturing cells feature state-of-the-art production and metrology equipment, which complements our expert knowledge in aspheric lens design and manufacturing. Whether your application calls for a stock component from our vast inventory, a build-to-print lens, or a fully customized design effort, our expert optical design and manufacturing engineers can develop solutions to meet your needs. Contact us today to speak with an expert or receive an expedited quote.

The Making of an Aspheric Lens

Edmund Optics^® manufacturers millions of optics every year throughout our four global facilities. Join us as we take you through the creation of an aspheric lens, from molding to grinding to polishing, centering, and metrology.

Capabilities

Edmund Optics^® is a premier manufacturer of aspheric lenses. We are experienced in achieving precision quality with a wide variety of Schott, Ohara, and CDGM glass types as well as fused silica and a variety of crystalline materials. Our extensive manufacturing capabilities include CNC polishing and magneto-rheological (MRF) finishing, all supported by world-class metrology that includes surface profilometry and aspheric stitching interferometry (ASI). More complicated freeform lenses with complex geometries can also be manufactured upon request.

Whether your needs call for just a few aspheric lenses for prototyping, a few dozen for pre-production, or a large volume for full production, Edmund Optics^® wants to ensure your project is successful.

Aspheric Manufacturing Capabilities
	Commercial	Precision	High Precision
Diameter	10 – 200mm	10 – 200mm	10 – 200mm
Diameter Tolerance	+0/-0.100mm	+0/-0.025	+0/-0.010
Asphere Figure Error (P - V)	3μm	1μm	<0.06μm*
Vertex Radius (Asphere)	±0.5%	±0.1%	±0.05%
Sag	25mm max	25mm max	25mm max
Typical Slope Error	1μm per 1mm window	0.35μm per 1mm window	0.15μm per 1 mm window
Centering (Beam Deviation)	3 arcmin	1 arcmin	0.5 arcmin
Center Thickness Tolerance	±0.100mm	±0.050mm	±0.010mm
Surface Quality (Scratch Dig)	80–50	40–20	10–5
Aspheric Surface Metrology	Profilometry (2D)	Profilometry (2D & 3D)	Interferometry

* 1/10th wave at 632.8nm, limited by design and/or metrology

Manufacturing Equipment

5-Axis CNC Grinding Machines
5-Axis CNC Polishing Machines
QED MRF Finishing Machines for Fine Finishing
Centering Machines

Metrology

Related Paper | Mid-Spatial Frequency Errors of Mass-Produced Aspheres

Wilhelmus A. C. M. Messelink, Amy Frantz, Shelby D. V. Ament, and Matthew Stairiker "Mid-spatial frequency errors of mass-produced aspheres", Proc. SPIE 10829, Fifth European Seminar on Precision Optics Manufacturing, 108290D (7 August 2018); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2318663

Download

Photonic & Imaging Technology

Edmund Optics article on Properly Designing and Specifying Aspheric Lenses featured on the May 2020 cover of Photonic & Imaging Technology.

View Now

Learning Resources

Application Notes

Technical information and application examples including theoretical explanations, equations, graphical illustrations, and much more.

All About Aspheric Lenses
Read

Aspherized Achromatic Lenses
Read

EO Preferred Glasses
Read

Need an Asphere Fast?
Read

Keys to Cost Effective Optical Design and Tolerancing
Read

Videos

Informative corporate or instructional videos ranging from simple tips to application-based demonstrations of product advantages.

Aspheric Lenses Review
Watch

Aspherized Achromatic Lens Review
Watch

Meet Jeremy Govier: Asphere Guru
Watch

EO Global Manufacturing Facilities
Watch

Metrology at Edmund Optics: Measuring as a Key Component of Manufacturing
Watch

Published Articles

Links to technical articles appearing in industry publications authored by Edmund Optics^® or featuring contributions from EO's engineering team and key management.

The Long and the Short of It: Techniques for Measuring Aspheres
Go

Design Considerations for Aspheric Lenses
Go

Optimizing the Design of Aspheric Lenses
Go

ASPHERES: Fabrication choices impact IR asphere design
Go

Using Aspheres To Increase Optical System Performance
Go

Edmund Optics Doubles Precision-Asphere Production Capacity
Go

Glasses roll aspheres into the mainstream
Go

Glass Molding Makes High-Quality Aspheres Cost Effective
Go

"Spatial Frequencies and Aspheric Lens Performance" by Pim Messelink and Cory Boone - Novus Light Technologies
Go

"Aspheres: The impact of shape factor on asphere design" by Eduardo Gonzalez - Laser Focus World
Go

"Understanding Aspheric Lenses" by Daniel Adams and Shelby Ament - Optik & Photonik
Go

"Aspheres: Still Adding Value" by Oleg Leonov and Cory Boone - Optics & Photonics News
Go

Selecting the Right Aspheres for Laser Applications
Go

Correcting Chromatic Aberration in Aspheric Lenses
Go

Webinars

Recorded webinars from Edmund Optics^® experts on a wide range of optics and imaging topics.

High-End Asphere Design for Manufacturability Webinar Recording
Watch

Selecting the Right Aspheric Lenses

Edmund Optics^® has the expertise to provide stock and custom aspheric lenses. Our specialty is precision polished and precision molded aspheric lenses. Color-corrected aspheres are available for broadband applications and we offer lens options for the entire infrared spectrum. Contact us with your requirements and our expert staff of optical manufacturing engineers will work closely with you to make sure we deliver aspheric lenses that meet your system's needs within your budget constraints.

TECHSPEC Precision UV Fused Silica Aspheric Lenses

Precision Polished Aspheric Lenses

Precision polished aspheric lenses are ideal for the most demanding applications. Designed to offer high numerical apertures, while creating diffraction-limited spot sizes.

Available in UV, visible, and IR grade materials
Variety of standard coating options available
Full prescription data for easy integration into OEM applications

Stock Products

How can we help meet your
budget, performance, and schedule requirements?