with applications for polymer optics within the medical, commercial, and defense markets. Spherical, aspheric and free-form custom optics can be created cost-effectively through injection molding. Injection molding allows complex shapes such as aspheric optics to be rapidly and accurately reproduced with high repeatability and reduced cost. Further, mounting features may be included on the optic reducing overall weight, assembly complexity, and Bill of Material (BOM) length.
With the above advantages available, injection-molded polymer optics are being used in far greater volumes and across many market segments.
With a focus on Design for Manufacturability (DFM), precision, service and project management the GS Plastic Optics engineers and manufacturing experts are ready to provide guidance and support for all phases of your project. From project inception through prototyping, first article qualification and production ramp-up, the GS Plastic Optics staff will be there to support you.
The latest developments in molding innovation and polymer materials make custom plastic optics a great alternative to glass components for a wide range of applications. Given the first intro in the 1930s, the use of polymer resins for optics has substantially increased and appears in virtually every market and lots of areas of our day-to-day life.
Custom plastic optics offer considerable expense benefits in high volume production mainly because of injection molding technology:
Conversely, there are factors that argue against making use of polymers. These factors are usually related to the properties of thermoplastics:
There are some procedure limitations associated with the form of an optic that can be generated by molding. These constraints almost always can be reduced if the design of the optic is done with the production procedure in mind.
One needs to remember that intricate optical surface areas, also in low amounts, will certainly be more affordable to produce with injection molding. The best success of any kind of project which involves custom plastic optics will certainly depend upon just how well the layout is maximized for injection molding.