Satisloh centering technology developments past to present

Ernst Michael Leitz; Steffen Moos

doi:10.1117/12.2195250

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11 October 2015 Satisloh centering technology developments past to present

Ernst Michael Leitz, Steffen Moos

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Proceedings Volume 9633, Optifab 2015; 96330K (2015) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2195250
Event: SPIE Optifab, 2015, Rochester, New York, United States

Abstract

The centering of an optical lens is the grinding of its edge profile or contour in relationship to its optical axis. This is required to ensure that the lens vertex and radial centers are accurately positioned within an optical system. Centering influences the imaging performance and contrast of an optical system. Historically, lens centering has been a purely manual process. Along its 62 years of assembling centering machines, Satisloh introduced several technological milestones to improve the accuracy and quality of this process. During this time more than 2.500 centering machines were assembled. The development went from bell clamping and diamond grinding to Laser alignment, exchange chuckor –spindle systems, to multi axis CNC machines with integrated metrology and automatic loading systems. With the new centering machine C300, several improvements for the clamping and grinding process were introduced. These improvements include a user friendly software to support the operator, a coolant manifold and “force grinding” technology to ensure excellent grinding quality and process stability. They also include an air bearing directly driven centering spindle to provide a large working range of lenses made of all optical materials and diameters from below 10 mm to 300 mm. The clamping force can be programmed between 7 N and 1200 N to safely center lenses made of delicate materials. The smaller C50 centering machine for lenses below 50 mm diameter is available with an optional CNC loading system for automated production.

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Ernst Michael Leitz and Steffen Moos "Satisloh centering technology developments past to present", Proc. SPIE 9633, Optifab 2015, 96330K (11 October 2015); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2195250

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