OP6655 Plano-Convex Lenses

Plano-Convex Lenses Description

Plano-convex lenses are optical lenses featuring one flat (plano) surface and one outwardly curved (convex) surface. These lenses primarily focus light or collimate light beams in a range of optical applications, including laser systems, optical instruments, and imaging devices. The convex surface causes light to converge, while the flat surface allows for straightforward mounting or integration into optical systems. Plano-convex lenses are typically manufactured from high-quality optical materials such as BK7, K9, quartz glass, or sapphire, which ensure excellent transmission and minimal distortion. Their versatile design makes them ideal for converging and diverging light, often used in applications requiring high precision and reliability.

Applications of Plano-Convex Lenses

- Laser Systems: Used for focusing or collating laser beams in various laser-based applications, such as laser cutting, engraving, and medical lasers.

- Imaging Systems: Utilised in optical systems to focus light and create sharp images, such as in cameras and microscopes.

- Optical Instruments: Employed in devices like telescopes, binoculars, and spectrometers to control the light path and improve image sharpness.

- Projection Systems: Used in projectors to concentrate light and direct it onto a screen.

- Microscopy: Plays a crucial role in microscopes for focusing light onto specimens to achieve high-resolution images.

Packaging of Plano-Convex Lenses

Our products are packaged in custom cartons of various sizes based on the dimensions of the materials. Smaller items are securely packed in PP cartons, while larger items are placed in custom-made wooden boxes. We ensure strict adherence to packaging specifications and the use of appropriate cushioning materials to provide optimal protection during transport.

Packaging: Carton, wooden box, paper barrel, iron barrel, or custom-built.

Please refer to the packaging details for your information.

Manufacturing Process

1. Material Selection: High-quality optical materials such as BK7, K9, quartz glass, or sapphire are selected based on the specific requirements of the lens, including light transmission, durability, and cost-effectiveness.

2. Cutting and Shaping: The chosen material is cut into rough lens blanks. A precision diamond saw or a similar device is used to trim the material to the desired size and shape.

3. Grinding: The lens blanks undergo a grinding process to refine the curvature of the convex surface and achieve the correct focal length. This process also ensures that the flat surface remains flat.

4. Polishing: Following grinding, the lens is polished to achieve a smooth, defect-free surface that allows for high optical clarity. This step is essential for ensuring surface quality and minimising distortion.

5. Coating (Optional): If required, the lens is coated with anti-reflective coatings or other specific coatings suitable for the intended application, such as UV coatings, infrared coatings, or protective coatings. This enhances light transmission and reduces surface reflection.

6. Inspection and Testing: Each lens is meticulously inspected for surface accuracy, surface quality, centration, and focal length. Modern optical measuring devices are employed to verify parameters like λ/10 surface accuracy and 10/5 surface quality.

7. Finishing: The edges of the lenses are chamfered to ensure they do not have sharp corners and comply with specifications such as < 0.2*4.5° bevel.

8. Packaging: The finished plano-convex lenses are carefully packaged, typically in protective covers or foam padding, to prevent transport damage.

Plano-Convex Lenses FAQ

Q1. What is a plano-convex lens?

A plano-convex lens is an optical lens comprising one flat surface (plano) and one convex surface (curved outward). It serves to focus or collimate light in various optical applications.

Q2. What materials are plano-convex lenses made from?

Plano-convex lenses are typically made from optical materials like BK7, K9, quartz glass, sapphire, and other high-quality glass or crystal materials, depending on the application.

Q3. What is the primary use of a plano-convex lens?

Plano-convex lenses primarily focus light, converge light beams, and adjust focal length in optical systems such as lasers, microscopes, and imaging systems.

Q4. What are the typical applications of plano-convex lenses?

These lenses are used in laser systems, beam shaping, optical communication, telescopes, microscopes, projection systems, photography, and thermal imaging, among others.

Performance Comparison Table

Different Materials of Plano-Convex Lenses

Related Information

Plano-convex lenses are commonly manufactured from K9 glass, with anti-reflective coatings designed for the wavelength range of 400-700 nm. Some lenses are also produced from ultraviolet quartz glass as a substrate. Ultraviolet quartz glass offers excellent transmission in the UV range and a low thermal expansion coefficient. UV anti-reflective coatings can be applied for specific applications.