lens moulding

Definition: Production of lens blanks by pressing between moulds glass which has been heated until it is soft. * The glass is then in approximately the correct size and shape for polishing. Mouldy old ways come back Posh manufacturers used to turn their nose up at moulding lenses: it was too inaccurate, produced variable results and the moulds kept on having to be remade. Moulding was for baby bottles and fun-fair prizes. But no more: modern ceramic and other materials which allow sub-micron precision in forming and offer unparalleled physical stability are changing it all. Plus the new huge demand for tiny optics for e.g. digital cameras -- moulding a smidgeon of a 6mm lens for a digicam is a whole different game from moulding one large enough for 35mm photography.

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