Optical CNC Machining

Swiss-style CNC lathes and 5-axis CNC machines equipped in our machine shop have incredible flexibility to make custom optical parts and components with high precision and quality. As a result, our precision CNC machining services for optical components are highly sought after throughout the industry.   5-Axis CNC Milling Our advanced 5-axis CNC machine centers offer several advantages over traditional optics manufacturing equipment. They significantly reduce tool wear, resulting in shorter cycle times and enabling the attainment of tighter tolerances compared to conventional diamond turning techniques These machine centers are particularly well-suited for manufacturing optical components with complex geometries, including inflected aspheres and freeforms, as well as parts featuring bevels, holes, channels, and other intricate features. Additionally, the precision machine centers expedite the production of tooling for molding and other processes, leading to reduced lead times. Materials Available for Optical CNC Machining In the field of optical measuring and metrology, even the slightest manufacturing flaws in machined parts can have a severe impact on the performance of measuring devices. It is crucial that all components, ranging from the device housing to the base plate, are constructed using materials that offer the necessary stability to ensure precise and consistent results. As an example, the frames of the coordinate measuring machine (CMM) are often constructed using a combination of aluminum alloys and ceramics, aiming to enhance the rigidity of the apparatus, particularly for the Z-axis direction, which is crucial for scanning applications. To ensure that our components are ideally suited for your optical applications, our team of engineers designs them with the most appropriate materials. Our experience has shown that the following materials are particularly effective for projects in the optical industry: ABS POM Brass Teflon HDPE Ceramics Polycarbonate Polypropylene Acrylic Titanium Aluminum Stainless steel