Photographic lens manufacturing and production technologies

Abstract

An investigation was conducted to determine the methods and processes required for the manufacture of photographic objective lenses. Production of photographic lenses requires incredible precision in the melting, mixing, molding and machining of optical glass. Manual inspection methods are required to ensure optimum quality and to avoid inclusion of defects in glass. Manual assembly procedures are required to ensure delicate operation of glass elements but contribute significantly to the consumer expense of these lenses. Newly developed technologies in the field of lens machining are discussed in terms of commercial advances and scientific advances. Companies like Canon have sought greater automation in pre-assembly procedures as well as a reduction in the number of machining steps. New advances including precision machining of aspherical lenses, fluid-jet polishing and magnetorheological finishing are pushing the boundaries of lens machining and its characteristic surface roughnesses to depths not seen before.