Precision laboratory apparatus for high temperature compression molding of glass lenses

Recently, compression molding of glass aspherical lenses has become a viable manufacturing process for precision optical devices. In this research, an apparatus designed for precision compression molding of glass optics was constructed. The apparatus design was governed by two primary goals: molding process control and property measurement of common optical glasses such as BK 7, SK5, and soda lime glass. Equipped with high precision components, a closed loop feedback control and a unique force adaptive scheme, the apparatus was successfully used for glass property measurement tests. Moreover, the performance of the apparatus was also validated using selected microlens molding experiments. (c) 2005 American Institute of Physics.