Optotech Optikmaschinen Gmbh

Opto Tech Corporation

Carl Zeiss Vision Gmbh

Essilor International (compagnie Generale D'optique)

Carl Zeiss Vision International Gmbh

Essilor International (compagnie General D'optique)

Wilhelm Loh Wetzlar Optikmaschinen Gmbh & Co. Kg

Optotech Optikmashinen Gmbh

Essilor International

Roland Mandler Gmbh & Co. Kg

Marc Silva

Dan Riall

Walter Dannhardt

Roland Mandler

Reinhold Weis

James Daniel Riall

Gerd Nowak

Oswin Lack

Walter Danhardt

Tobias Müller

Wito Hartmann

Sebastian Stahringer

A blocking piece for vacuum blocking a lens blank is disclosed. The blocking piece includes a blank contacting element formed of a rigid fluid-permeable material having an upper surface for contacting the lens blank. The blocking piece further includes a support element having an upper part tightly enclosing the blank contacting element on a peripheral surface of the blank contacting element and a lower part adapted to engage with a clamping device for clamping the blocking piece. The lens blank is fixed to the upper surface of the blank contacting element by applying a vacuum within the blocking piece to provide suction through essentially the entire upper surface of the blank contacting element. The disclosure further relates to a method for blocking a lens blank and a use of an element formed of a rigid fluid-permeable material as a part of a blocking piece.

Blocking piece and method for vacuum blocking a lens blank

A tool drive unit for a turning device for machining workpieces has a tool holder driven in a displaceable manner along an infeed direction by a first linear motor and driven in a pendular/displaceable manner in a direction transverse to the infeed direction by a second linear motor. Both linear motors have a moving coil/piezo element. The turning device has a main infeed drive, which produces a primary infeed movement of a turning tool in an infeed direction, and has a main transverse drive which produces a primary transverse movement in a transverse direction transversely to the infeed direction. The turning device has a secondary transverse drive whose movements are oriented in the same direction as the main transverse drive, wherein the turning tool and the axis of rotation can be moved towards one another and away from one another by the superimposition of primary and secondary transverse movements.

Tool drive unit, turning device and turning method

A milling device having a first milling station with a first workpiece spindle capable of rotating about a first spindle axis Aintended to receive a first lens blank and with a first milling tool with first cutters capable of rotating about a first milling axis FAintended for machining a received first lens blank. At least one second milling station with a second workpiece spindle capable of rotating about a second spindle axis Areceives a second lens blank, and with a second milling tool with second cutters capable of rotating about a second milling axis FAmachining the received second lens blank, the spindle axes A, Abeing aligned parallel to one another, the milling axes FA, FAbeing aligned parallel to one another, and obliquely aligned to the spindle axes A, A. The invention also includes a method for the operation of the milling device.

Milling device for optical lens production with two milling stations and method of use

An optical lens blank includes a first and a second lens surface, which are arranged opposite each other and which are delimited at a lens circumference, wherein the first lens surface has a surface geometry that corresponds to a first partial cutout from a first melon shape. A range of blanks consisting of such lens blanks have first lens surfaces of varying degrees of curvature, wherein the different degrees of curvature are based on different melon shapes. Finally, a method for producing a spectacle lens from such an optical lens blank includes mechanically shaping at least the first or second surface, and separating a cutout from the mechanically shaped lens blank.

Optical lens blank, a blank assortment and a method for the production of lenses

A polishing device for polishing curved lens faces of optical lenses has a workpiece holder for receiving an optical lens and a polishing tool. The polishing tool has a support element, an elastic substructure and a curved polishing surface on the elastic substructure. The polishing tool, with the polishing surface, is driven in a rotating manner about a rotation axis, the workpiece holder being driven in a rotating manner about a first axis, in order to rotate the optical lens. A distance between the workpiece holder and the polishing tool is adjustable along a second axis. An offset between the workpiece holder and the polishing device is adjustable along a third axis, which is aligned transversely in relation to the first axis. A pitch angle between the rotation axis and the first axis is adjustable by tilting about a fourth axis. A method of operating the device is also disclosed.

Polishing device for polishing concave lens faces of optical lenses, and method for operation thereof

A workpiece has an optical lens blank with a first lens face and a second lens face, which are arranged opposite each other and are delimited at a lens circumference, and a cover film on the first lens face, wherein a first recess in the lens blank is formed, which is open in the direction of the first lens face and which is at least partially spanned in the direction of the first lens face by the cover film. A method for the production thereof and a method for the machining thereof. The machining method is distinguished, in particular, by the cover film being gripped for the purpose of pulling it off in the area that spans the first recess.

Workpiece with optical lens blank, method for the production thereof, and method for the machining thereof

A turning device has two turning stations, each with a rotatable work piece spindle to hold a lens blank and each with a turning tool for the machining of a lens blank. A fabrication mechanism for the manufacturing of eyeglass lenses from lens blanks includes a milling device and the turning device, wherein the milling device has at least one milling station with a work piece holder to hold a lens blank and a milling tool for the machining of the lens blank. A loading device is configured to remove lens blanks from the milling device and load them into the turning device. A method for operating such a fabrication mechanism includes simultaneous machining of a third lens blank with the milling tool and a first and a second lens blank with the turning tools.

Simultaneous turning device for fabrication of eyeglass lenses

A turning device has two turning stations, each with a rotatable work piece spindle to hold a lens blank, each lens blank with a turning tool for the machining of a lens blank. A method for the operation of the turning device, wherein first and the second lens blanks are simultaneously machined with the turning tools is disclosed. Control electronics attune drive signals to each other such that certain drive signals for fast tool servomotors of the turning tools accomplish at least a temporary or phase-wise opposite running of the fast tool servomotors for vibration dampening. A fabrication mechanism is provided for the manufacturing of eyeglass lenses from lens blanks with a milling device and a turning device along with a method for operating the fabrication mechanism.

Manufacturing spectacle lenses using lens blanks blocked onto holding elements is laborious and time-consuming. Furthermore the manufacture is rendered difficult by different surface curvatures on the receiving side of the lens blanks. The purpose of the invention is to remedy such drawbacks. Accordingly this invention relates to equipment for processing lens blanks comprising a workpiece turret supported rotatably about a main axis of rotation, said turret being fitted with at least two workpiece receptacles configured each outside the main axis of rotation and being rotatable about spindle axes, each workpiece receptacle comprising a workpiece receiving surface having a surface curvature rotationally symmetrical about the spindle axis, whereby said surface curvatures of the workpiece receiving surfaces being different from each other.

Method to process spectacle lens blanks

A polishing method for machining an optical surface of an optical lens uses a polishing wheel which has a wheel axis and a polishing face. The polishing wheel is moved in relation to the lens over the surface of the latter along a spiral machining path. The polishing wheel is rotated about the wheel axis, and is (simultaneously) rotated about an axis of rotation oriented perpendicularly to the wheel axis. The rotational speed of the polishing wheel about the wheel axis and/or the axis of rotation is reduced at the spiral center of the movement path. A workpiece fixture for receiving an optical lens stands opposite the polishing wheel, with the workpiece fixture and the polishing wheel being mounted movably in relation to one another along a spiral movement path. The rotational speed of the wheel axis can be coupled kinematically to the rotational speed of the axis of rotation.

Polishing method for machining an optical surface of an optical lens and polishing tools suitable therefor

The invention relates to a method for processing a plastic part by using a lathe system and comprises the following steps:

Method and apparatus for processing a plastic part and comprising a lathe system

A method for manufacture of spectacle glasses from prefabricated blanks made without cutting. Each prefabricated blank has a front side not to be finished and an opposite back side. The front side and the back side have at least one optical focus in common. The method includes finishing the back side by calculating a prescription surface based on a prescription of a person. The prescription describes the vision defects of a left and a right eye of the person. The machined back side and the front side together form a first prescription lens and a second prescription lens. The method further includes making first and second spectacle glasses from the first and second prescription lenses. Focal points of the first spectacle glass correct the vision defect of the left eye and focal points of the second spectacle glass correct the vision defect of the right eye of the person.

Method for the manufacture of cost-optimized spectacle lenses

For manufacturing ophthalmic lenses and other optical form bodies made of plastic material, plastic form parts are used which are made by non-cutting shaping and are then further worked by mechanical production steps. Said plastic form parts are circular blanks () made of two different plastic materials which are firmly joined to each other. Thereby, an interior lens element () that consists of a high-quality material is concentrically surrounded by a ring fixture () which consists of a low priced material. Either surface of the lens element () may feature any given geometry. During mechanical working, the ring fixture () is used for mounting as well as for depositing and, in addition, for stabilizing the workpiece (). For this reason it is partially maintained throughout the mechanical working and is cut off at the end only.

Method for manufacturing ophthalmic lenses using circular blanks

A method for producing spectacle lenses from raw lenses prefabricated in a non-cutting manner uses raw lenses having a central geometric axis standing vertically on them. The lens comprises a convex front side that is formed in a rotationally symmetrical manner about the central axis and is not to be reworked and an opposing back side that is to be reworked with a CNC machine. The front- and back side have at least one optical focal point in common. In order to rework the back side a prescription surface is calculated on the basis of a prescription and of the geometry of the front side. This surface forms a prescription lens in common with the front side, the focal points of which lens correct the visual error of the prescription holder. A spectacle lens with an optical center is produced from the prescription lens for use in an eyeglass frame.

Method for producing cost-optimized spectacle lenses with especially advantageous properties for the user

The invention concerns a method for producing ophthalmic lenses that uses plastic blanks in the form of flat, round discs. The outer edge of said plastic blanks is clamped and the desired final surface geometry and surface quality of the front faces of the lens are subsequently produced by a machining process using grinders and/or lathes and by smoothing and polishing processes. During machining, a thicker annular region is retained on the outer circumference of the workpiece. The annular region clamps or arranges the workpiece during machining and transport operations and stabilizes the lens for additional machining. Shaped pieces for identifying the machining axes are attached to the annular region. The lens is provided with fine markings to characterize the lens that has been produced, with the lens then being separated from the region.

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Heuchelheim, Germany

Roland Mandler