Eastman Kodak developed the Precision Glass Molding (PGM) technology for rapidly producing aspheric lenses. At one time Eastman Kodak produced millions of lens per month for the Disc Camera project. Later, the PGM process was adapted to mass produce aspheric lenses in support of larger lens systems. Optical designers were then able to incorporate aspheric elements into high volume designs, reducing lead times and lowering costs. Today at Rochester Precision Optics the PGM process offers both catalog and custom molded glass aspheric lenses in sizes from 1mm to 60mm in diameter.
The highly repeatable PGM process is accomplished by heating and press forming optical grade glass blanks (preforms) using ultra precision tooling. RPO’s vertical integration allows for in-house manufacturing of all tooling, molds, preform fabrication, centering and AR coating.
The molding process produces an optic that has a free form edge; when necessary, a secondary operation of centering defines the finished diameter. These molded lenses can have spherical, aspherical and biaspherical surfaces.
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