P3D Re: PHOTO-3D digest 3040

[Ronald Beck <ronald-beck@xxxxxx>]

> Is it really that sophisticated?  If things have changed, I'd like to
> know about it.  Last I knew, lenses were still made in the "traditional"
> way by grinding molded blanks down to the desired profile using
> progressively finer grades of abrasives.  (This obviously does not apply
> to polycarbonate and other non-glass lenses.)  If anyone has any
> information otherwise, I for one would sure like to know!

Well, from my observations with our optics group (for defense optics),
the designers use computer programs to design and simulate different
optic designs.  Once the design is completed, it is passed on to the
"grinding" department which creates/procures the blanks, mounts them on
grinding machines and then starts the motor.  I've watched these
machines with their grinding/polishing wheels running with their
never-ending stream of abrasive filled liquid.  IMHO, it's an
interesting mix of modern day technology and old world craftmanship.

We won't even get into the coating machines that adhere the coatings to
the glass molecule by molecule :-)

Ron


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