OptiCentric^® Alignment Turning

In alignment turning, optical units are processed by mechanical machining. The holder with the lens is first placed into a clamp, and the centering error measured. The clamp is then aligned in such a way that the optical axis and rotational axis coincide. The holder is then lathed away in a second process step.

The most important components in this fabrication process are the centering lathe with a high-precision axis, the OptiCentric^® Alignment Turning System for precise measurement of the centering error, and the mechanically mechanically adjustable clamp. The axis of rotation ensures that the fabrication process is carried out stably and precisely. It is mounted on hydrostatic bearings and its radial deviation is less than 0.08 μm.

The OptiCentric^® Alignment Turning System determines the orientation of the optical axis of the workpiece relative to the axis of rotation. The system is available in variants with one or two electronic autocollimators. If two autocollimators are used, both centers of curvature of the lens can be measured at the same time. With only a single autocollimator, two measurements are taken one after the other, and the position of the optical axis is determined using the MultiLens^® algorithm.

The sample is then translated and tilted in the X and Y directions using the adjustment clamp in such a way that the optical axis of the sample coincides with the axis of rotation. Accuracy in the submillimeter range can be achieved in this way. The mechanical interlock on the adjustment clamp ensures that the position of the optical axis relative to the axis of rotation does not change while the holder is centered to the rated diameter. In addition, both flange surfaces of the holder are also machined.

An optical sensor that measures the distance between the flange surface and the vertex of the optical surface of the workpiece can optionally be used.

The specification of the alignment turning station is: