• PRO 160 Series for grinding (PRO 160 GTS), high speed polishing (PRO 160P), UltraForm Finishing/UltraSmooth Finishing (PRO 160A), and centering (PRO 160C) of precision optics up to 160mm in diameter
• Automation: Universal Robots UR3 robotic arm will be programmed to load and unload optics on the  PRO 80 GTS 
• UltraSurf 4X 300 non-contact profilometer, ideal for measuring virtually any asphere up to 300mm in diameter
• Glassmaster 520 planetary polisher
• Bevel PRO efficient beveling machine
• and much more...

Part 2 - UltraForm Finishing: Polishing aspheres in a deterministic approach and reasonable amount of process time has been sought after for decades. (Note: An aspheric lens or asphere is a lens whose surface profiles are not portions of a sphere or cylinder). Undulating slopes of an asphere surface is one of many challenges presented to the optician who must create custom tools each time a new design is sent to manufacturing. Until OptiPro brought to market the UFF (UltraForm Finishing) process and series of equipment for aspheres, Acylinders and freeform shapes, skilled craftsmen with years of experience were required along with many weeks of processing. In addition to hard-to-find optics skill and weeks of time, each asphere lens shape required specific tooling which added lead time and cost.

With decades of CNC experience at OptiPro, including industry experts and staff who once worked at the University of Rochester Center for Optics Manufacturing, in conjunction with customer input, UFF was brought to life. Several years of trials and incremental improvements resulted in a deterministic bound abrasive and slurry based approach of asphere processing.  As you look at the UFF platform you think to yourself, "Yeah that make sense why didn't I think of that!" Yet the team at OptiPro spent many nights and long days trying several different configurations of abrasive belts, wheels and spinners, converging on the current platform design and wheel construction.  Flexibility of the polishing equipment and polishing apparatus enables quick setup of infinite shapes and surface profiles.  As we embark on the Freeform era, traditional methods of processing will not be an approach opticians can take. However, UFF is well suited to navigate freeform surfaces and topographical profiles that at one time lens designers could only dream of bringing to life. As OptiPro continues to improve UFF with the aid of PROSurf mapping software, the team will start the process of creating the next innovation in Optics processing. Stay tuned for more innovation next month.

Don't miss the next opportunity to participate in OptiPro U: October 26th-30th, 2015 at OptiPro's facility in Ontario, NY. If you are thinking about polishing your skills in precision optics manufacturing, register today before the class fills! OptiPro U is a one week study of current processes, machinery, and tools employing the latest CNC technology that is shaping the methodology in manufacturing optical components.