Diamond Grinding of Optical Surfaces on Aspheric Lens Molds

Abstract

Through previous marketing surveys and discussions with many companies in 1984 and '85, it has become apparent that there is a growing need for a grinding machine capable of producing high quality, aspheric optical surfaces on various brittle materials that cannot be directly machined by single crystal diamond tools. Some of the materials of prime interest are ceramics and carbides, to be used as molds for plastic and glass lenses. Even though tool steel substrates with electroless nickel plating are being directly machined by single crystal diamond tools and used for injection molding of plastic lenses, the harder carbide and ceramic substrates have more desireable properties as molds for both plastic and glass lenses. Various applications of these lenses include use in: - Cameras and Photocopiers - Fiber Optic Connectors, and - Pick-up Heads for Compact Disc Players for both audio and read only memory (CD-ROM) applications.