Custom Optical Cylindrical glass lenses for laser line generation

Custom Optical Cylindrical glass lenses for laser line generation

• Material:

  • Primarily high-purity optical glasses (e.g., N-BK7, Borofloat, Fused Silica/Quartz, specialty glasses like SF or LaK types).

  • Selection is critical and depends on laser wavelength (UV, Visible, NIR, IR), power density, and required transmission efficiency. Fused silica excels for UV/high-power applications due to its high laser damage threshold (LDT) and low absorption. N-BK7 is cost-effective for many visible light applications.

• Key Properties:

  • Precise Cylindrical Surface: One plano surface, one accurately curved cylindrical surface generating the line.

  • High Surface Accuracy & Low Roughness: Minimizes scattering and ensures a clean, sharp line. Surface figures often specified in wavelengths (λ).

  • High Laser Damage Threshold (LDT): Essential to withstand concentrated laser power without degradation.

  • Low Wavefront Distortion: Maintains beam quality along the generated line.

  • Precise Dimensional Tolerances: Diameter, length, radius of curvature (ROC) tightly controlled for system integration and performance.

  • Anti-Reflective (AR) Coatings: Custom coatings for specific wavelengths maximize transmission (>99% per surface) and minimize back-reflections/ghost lines.

• Core Function:

  • To transform a circular Gaussian laser beam into a straight, uniform, high-intensity laser line.

  • Achieved through anamorphic distortion – the cylindrical curvature diverges (negative lens) or converges (positive lens) the laser beam strongly in one axis (meridional plane) while leaving the beam unaffected in the perpendicular axis (sagittal plane). This 1D expansion creates the line.

• Primary Applications:

  • Machine Vision & Optical Metrology: Precise alignment, profile measurement, 3D scanning (structured light), part inspection.

  • Laser Alignment & Levelling: Construction, surveying, manufacturing setup.

  • Laser Processing: Marking, engraving, cutting (e.g., for line ablation, edge detection).

  • Biomedical & Scientific Instrumentation: Flow cytometry, particle imaging, confocal microscopy (light sheet generation).

  • Entertainment & Displays: Laser light shows, projection effects.

  • Barcode Scanning: Generating long, straight lines for linear scanners.

  • LiDAR: Creating fan beams for certain scanning configurations.

In essence: Custom optical cylindrical glass lenses are precision-engineered components using specialized glass materials and coatings. Their defining property is a single curved cylindrical surface that transforms a laser spot into a highly controlled, straight line. Valued for their ability to generate sharp, bright, and uniform lines with high efficiency and durability under laser illumination, they are indispensable tools across advanced manufacturing, inspection, alignment, and research fields where accurate linear laser projection is required.