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Although
glass lens molds, used in the production of plastic lenses, have been somewhat
of a commodity business in the past, lens manufacturers are looking at ways to
reduce their costs and improve their selections. Corning's glass heritage in
developing materials to solve.
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Polycarbonate mold injection
Corning NetOptix progressive inserts feature numerous technology advantages
New York, New York (March 21, 2003) -- Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW)
subsidiary NetOptix today said that several technology breakthroughs on its new
diamond-turned progressive polycarbonate mold inserts may soon replace
traditional electro-form and glass mold systems.
“Our new mold inserts used to injection mold progressive polycarbonate lenses
offer several technology advantages, from solving the programming of complex
free-forms to greatly improving the accuracy of the laser-etched semi-visible
markings on the final contour,” said Jeffrey Perra, a product manager for
NetOptix, a Corning subsidiary since 2000."
“The technology breakthroughs also are significant in terms of price,” Perra
said, adding that his company’s Keene, N.H. - based facility has the capacity
to produce virtually unlimited quantities of finished next generation
progressive inserts press ready.”
NetOptix’s complete product offering includes on-axis spheres and aspheres,
toroids, flats, and advanced ophthalmic multi-focal inserts.
Perra listed these advantages of the NetOptix Progressive Inserts:
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Precision clocking feature. Each insert has a precision dowel hole on the back
surface for consistently accurate contour orientation every time.
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Electroless nickel plating. NetOptix can nickel-plate a variety of substrate
materials, up to .025” thickness with zero defect allowance.
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Superior figure accuracy. Every insert will precisely match a customer’s
theoretical design within 1-2 µm total profile accuracy over the entire contour
and within .25 - .5 µm cylinder over a typical designated test aperture.
-
Laser etching. The precision clocking feature on each insert facilitates the
location of the semi-visible markings and dramatically improves their
positional accuracy.
“These breakthrough concepts have the potential to revolutionize a lens category
that already represents the most technologically-advanced of all ophthalmic
lenses,” Perra said.
NetOptix is currently teaming with Corning Ophthalmic’s North American unit to
identify additional commercial opportunities for its progressive inserts, Perra
said.
More information on Corning NetOptix is available on the Internet at
www.corningnetoptix.com.