Multi-Element Lenses

Multi-element lenses are used when a singlet lens cannot fulfill the needed optical function due to aberration or wavefront distortion, or when more complex optical transformation is required, like beam resizing. CVI Laser Optics’ multi-element lenses offer optimized beam quality and tight focal spots, often with near diffraction limited performance. We carry a broad selection of standard focal lengths and aperture diameters, with various design wavelengths and corrections, as well as high energy options, serving a wide range of collimating, focusing, and imaging applications in the UV to NIR range.

Our cemented achromats are available in both standard and laser grades. This allows you to find the right solution, depending on your surface quality, wavefront, power handling and cost requirements. All have been corrected for spherical aberration and coma to deliver the best performance possible. 

If you’re ready to take the next step in your OEM product development, or simply require specialized optics for a demanding application, we can work with you to create a custom multielement lens assembly or system. Please contact us to determine the appropriate design to meet your needs. 

Capabilities

  Standard Custom Options
Types Cemented achromatic doublets Build to print doublets, triplets and multielement lens assemblies
Materials

N-BK7, N-SF2, N-SF5, N-SF8, N-SF10, N-SF11, N-BAK1, N-BAK4, N-SK11, UV-grade fused silica

Other optical glasses
Diameter 6.0 to 101.6 mm Custom sizes
Coatings
  • Single layer MgF2 AR
  • Other wavelengths (193 - 2100 nm)
  • Narrowband V-coat AR
  • Broadband multilayer AR
Quality Standard, precision and laser quality Tighter tolerances available

 

Multi-Element Lenses Manufacturing Capabilities**

Surface Tolerances Standard Precision Laser Quality
Surface quality (scratch - dig) 60 - 40 20 - 10 10 - 5*
Surface roughness (Å, RMS) 20 10 5
Surface Irregularity
(waves, P-V @ 633 nm)
λ/2 λ/4 λ/10
Surface Power
(waves, P-V @ 633 nm)
λ/2 λ/4 λ/10
Dimensional Tolerances Standard Precision
Diameter (mm) +0/-0.25 +0/-0.10
Center thickness (mm) ± 0.25 ± 0.10
Spherical radius (fringes) 5 3
Centration (edge thickness variation, mm) 0.05 0.03
Clear aperture (%) ≥ 85% ≥ 85%

 

* This is for the most well behaved materials, like fused silica and N-BK7.  Softer materials like CaF2 and N-SF11 are manufactured with 20-10 laser grade surface quality.

** Note: The general tolerance specifications above are intended to guide determination of appropriate tolerances based both on relative cost and manufacturability. Part-specific tolerances will vary depending on size, material, shape and aspect ratio. Tighter tolerances may be possible, so please contact us to discuss your custom specifications. All specifications do not need to be from a single column, though trade-offs may be required in order to meet the desired combination of cost and performance.