Optics CNC Machining
With Elimold you get more than just optical components, you also get a professional partner in CNC machining that offers you tailor-made solutions and optimal cost control.
High Precision Optical Components CNC Manufacturer
With a variety of CNC machining equipment, Elimold excels in manufacturing complex free-form optical components and complex geometries of optical components. We excel in manufacturing parts beyond traditional shapes. Equipped with true 5-axis precision machining centers, we can expertly make lightweight structures and components with high aspect ratios, with special bevels, precision holes, inserts, and mounting interfaces. Our capabilities not only cover optical glass, but also extend to a variety of challenging materials, including metals, ceramics, corundum, tungsten carbide, and composites.
Before the start of an optical processing project, there must be a detailed processing plan, including design requirements, material specifications, processing steps, and quality standards. Our technical team has extensive experience in optical design, material selection, processing, and application, and can quickly find the best processing solution based on customer needs. Throughout the production process, we adhere to strict quality control procedures, including inspection, testing, and recording, to ensure that each optical component meets the specified design requirements and quality standards. Elimold focuses on the production of high-precision, large-size, ultra-lightweight precision parts, and is a trusted authority in the field of precision optics.
Why choose Elimold?
- Design-for-Manufacturability sharpens our focus on efficient, reliable production process for reduced risk
- Optical manufacturing engineers use both conventional and CNC methods to streamline all manufacturing processes, ensuring high-quality optics on demand
- In-house custom tooling optimizes production rate and reduces costs
- Expedited prototyping (PEDS) service helps catch design and performance flaws early on, speeding your time-to-market
- Optical coatings like AR coatings, beamsplitters, and cut-off filters deliver exceptional value
CNC Optical Machining Services
We have the experience and state-of-the-art equipment to transform the most complex designs into tangible products. From prototypes and one-offs to full-scale production runs in the tens of thousands, Elimold provides high-quality, high-precision parts to customers in all areas of the optical industry. We can quickly and efficiently produce parts to your exact design specifications with perfect repeatability.
5-Axis CNC Machining
CNC Milling
CNC Turning
Optical Machining Solutions
Elimold is committed to building the most advanced ultra-precision optical intelligent manufacturing platform. Driven by a skilled machining team and advanced equipment, our process starts with precision CNC machining. Subsequently, we use robotic grinding and polishing, supplemented by high-resolution interferometry, and the final steps include meticulous coating and cleaning processes to finally assemble our cutting-edge optical systems. At Elimold, we seamlessly integrate expertise and technology to provide optical solutions with unparalleled precision and quality.
Nanoscale Tolerances through Precision Motion
Modern freeform optics applications require nanoscale form tolerances through sub-aperture machining. This requires precise motion coordination across multiple machining axes, and no one does it better than us. Our precision optics automation solutions include inspection, assembly, and machining. Our capabilities range from nanoscale optics processing for the semiconductor and electronics markets to large-scale optics for cutting-edge science and aerospace and defense markets.
Machine Stiffness and Structural Integrity
Our systems automate optical manufacturing processes with high dynamic stiffness to achieve nanoscale form and finishing. We offer a wide range of mechanical and air bearing stages with the stiffness to meet your customers’ optical specifications. During optical testing and assembly, we can provide high-precision positioning during motion and ultra-high stability when holding position. This ensures that your process and production results are repeatable to the highest standards.
Maintaining Precision in Extreme Environments
At Elimold, we prioritize precision and can help you consider every element of your lens design to manufacture precise, high-quality spherical and aspherical lenses, defense optics, and more. If your precision machining is performed in extreme environments, we have a solution for you. We provide sealed linear and rotary stages for diamond turning, grinding and polishing applications. We also regularly design and build custom multi-axis systems for vacuum ion beam processing.
Explore our capabilities
We have extensive manufacturing capabilities, including optical design, precision machining, metrology and coating. This overall capability not only enables us to produce a large number of custom optical components in-house, but also enhances our ability to meet a variety of customer-specific optical system needs.
Machines for all optical parts machining steps
We have the most comprehensive equipment in the world, providing machining services for almost all precision optical applications.
- Grinding
- Polishing
- Fine Correction
- Centering
- Measuring
- Cementing
- Coating
- Automation
- Software
- Consumables
Materials for Optical Parts
The materials used in the manufacture of optical components vary widely depending on the application, performance requirements, and environmental conditions. Our machine shop is capable of producing complex parts using exotic and tough materials.
- Aluminum
- Copper
- Bronze
- Brass
- Titanium
- Stainless Steel
- Teflon
- SOMABLACK
- Delrin
- Noryl
- Peek
- PVC
- UHMW
- Glass
- Quartz
- Polycarbonate
Various Polishing Methods, Diverse optic Needs
Conventional Polishing
Elimold uses asphalt technology for high-precision spherical and flatpolishing of optical crystals, optical glass, and fused quartz.”ConventionalPitch Polishing” is a traditional polishing technique in optical processingusually using a material called “pitch” as a grinding tool. This method isalso known as “pitch polishing”. During the polishing process, abrasivematerial (usually abrasive fluid or abrasive particles) is added to the pitchsurface. These particles roll over the pitch surface, grinding the workpiecesurface at the same time. This process provides excellent surface shapeand surface quality. We currently have a large range of continuous single-sided polishing rings available in different sizes to accommodate theoptical polishing of substrates from 3mm to 1000mm.
CNC Polishing
Leveraging CNC polishing technology, Elimold excels in rapid massproduction while seamlessly integrating intricate designs, superiorprecision, and cost-effectiveness.t has been the most widely used incommon optic production.
IBF Polishing
Unlike mechanical polishing, ion beam figuring polishing is a contactlessprocess. Before processing, surface errors are measured, and the ionbeam etching system tailors a unique dwell time map for each substratebased on this profile. Using ions to bombard optical surfaces, it achievesnanoscale precision, making it ideal for polishing optics with diameters upto thousands of millimeters. While it requires a vacuum and has lowmaterial removal rates, it’s the final step at Elimold for precision processing.This breakthrough method allows us to create symmetrical, aspherical, orfree-form optics, providing process flexibility, shorter production times,and superior quality.
Robotic Polishing
Elimold leads the trend of advanced technology and independently developsrobot polishing technology.The ultra-precision polishing machine (IRP) isequipped with an intelligent system to automatically achieve high-precision polishing, significantly improving efficiency and achieving submicron-level surface accuracy for manufacturing more complex opticalcomponents.
MRF Polishing
Elimold offers advanced Magnetorheological Finishing (MRF) forprecise optical polishing, achieving nanometer-level surface quality andaccuracy. This technology uses a magnetic fluid under computer controlmaking it ideal for polishing complex shapes and various materials, suchas quartz and sapphire. MRF ensures high efficiency and quality, cateringto demanding industries like aerospace and defense.
Elimold Quests for flawless In optic Metrology
Our experienced technical experts construct detection optical pathsystems and can design optical detection lenses, flat mirrors, reflectorsand other detection components. We excel in delivering efficientdetection solutions by seamlessly integrating detection equipment andcomponents for thorough product testing.
Equipped with numerous Zygo interferometers, Zygo white lightinterferometers, Zeiss three-coordinate measuring systems, and othertesting equipment, our comprehensive processing monitoring systemensures product quality.
This comprehensive capability enables us to deliver solutions that alignwith your unique optical needs.
Coating Your optics in The Best Way
At Elimold, we boast extensive expertise in optical coating to assistyou in overcoming specific challenges. You are allowed to have themost possibilities of coating film selections, ranging from l0mm to2,000mm in our custom coating service. What’s more important, it is allconducted at the hiahest standard at an affordable budget.Our optical coating technologies include EBE coating, lBs coating, lADcoating, and APS coating tech.
Parts We Produce for the Optics & Photonics
Optical components are essential components in a wide range of optical instruments, devices and systems used in fields such as microscopy, photography, astronomy, telecommunications, etc. Below are some examples of optical components manufactured by Elimolg:
- Lens Barrels
- Brackets
- Housings & Lids
- Covers
- Lens Mounts
- Heat Sink
- Mirror Holder
- Enclosure
- Adjustment Screw
- Mounting Plates
- Photonic Hardware
Ready to get your optical CNC machining parts?
At Elimold, we continually exceed quality standards in machining—from precision micromachining to wire EDM, our expert CNC services deliver ultra-precise results using the finest materials and tightest tolerances. Contact us today to learn how you can take advantage of our CNC machining capabilities.