Tools for optical lenses
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A tool for use in surfacing of optical lenses produced by a method comprising the steps of:
- a. preparing a resin component including;
(1) a reactive epoxy resin, and(2) a filler consisting of finely divided aluminum, a finely divided inert mineral, or a mixture thereof;
b. preparing a hardener component including;
(3) at least one hardener reactive with said epoxy resin to produce cross-linking, and(4) a filler consisting of finely divided aluminum, a finely divided inert mineral, or a mixture thereof;
c. admixing said resin component and said hardener component in a ratio selected to provide, in the resulitng admixture, a suitable amount of said hardener to effect substantially complete reaction with said epoxy resin and a high degree of cross-linking, and to provide about 5 to 15 percent of said aluminum, and about 50 to 65 percent of said mineral, based upon the weight of said admixture;
d. introducing said admixture into the casting system of a centrifugal casting machine having at least one casting cavity dimensioned and configured to produce said tool;
e. operating said machine to effect centrifugal casting of said admixture into said casting cavity;
f. maintaining said admixture at an appropriate temperature for a period of time sufficient to effect substantial cross-linking between said resin and said hardener so as to thereby produce said tool; and
g. removing said tool from said casting cavity;
said tool comprising a monolithic body having a generally spherical surface portion adapted to engage on optical lens member, and a mounting portion spaced from said spherical surface portion and having means thereon corresponding to features of said surface portion adapted to permit accurate registration of said surface portion elements with respect to the device in which said tool is to be mounted, said tool being uniformly hard, durable and dimensionally stable, and being adapted for machining to modify the dimensions and configurations of said portions thereof.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method is provided whereby articles of manufacture, such as tools suitable for use in lens grinding and finishing operations, can be cast with an aluminum filled epoxy composition. The resultant articles are relatively inexpensive and light in weight, and they exhibit the levels of dimensional stability, durability, hardness, and machineability necessary to render them highly suited for their intended purposes.
36 Citations
27 Claims
-
1. A tool for use in surfacing of optical lenses produced by a method comprising the steps of:
-
a. preparing a resin component including; (1) a reactive epoxy resin, and (2) a filler consisting of finely divided aluminum, a finely divided inert mineral, or a mixture thereof; b. preparing a hardener component including; (3) at least one hardener reactive with said epoxy resin to produce cross-linking, and (4) a filler consisting of finely divided aluminum, a finely divided inert mineral, or a mixture thereof; c. admixing said resin component and said hardener component in a ratio selected to provide, in the resulitng admixture, a suitable amount of said hardener to effect substantially complete reaction with said epoxy resin and a high degree of cross-linking, and to provide about 5 to 15 percent of said aluminum, and about 50 to 65 percent of said mineral, based upon the weight of said admixture; d. introducing said admixture into the casting system of a centrifugal casting machine having at least one casting cavity dimensioned and configured to produce said tool; e. operating said machine to effect centrifugal casting of said admixture into said casting cavity; f. maintaining said admixture at an appropriate temperature for a period of time sufficient to effect substantial cross-linking between said resin and said hardener so as to thereby produce said tool; and g. removing said tool from said casting cavity;
said tool comprising a monolithic body having a generally spherical surface portion adapted to engage on optical lens member, and a mounting portion spaced from said spherical surface portion and having means thereon corresponding to features of said surface portion adapted to permit accurate registration of said surface portion elements with respect to the device in which said tool is to be mounted, said tool being uniformly hard, durable and dimensionally stable, and being adapted for machining to modify the dimensions and configurations of said portions thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24)
-
- 21. A tool for use in surfacing of optical lenses comprising a monolithic body cast from a highly filled epoxy casting compound, said body having a generally spherical surface portion adapted to engage an optical lens member, and a mounting portion spaced from said spherical surface portion and having means thereon corresponding to features of said surface portion adapted to permit accurate registration of said surface portion elements with respect to the device in which said tool is to be mounted, said epoxy casting compound comprising an epoxy matrix and a finely divided filler, said filler comprising a mixture of aluminum and an inert mineral and being uniformly distributed throughout said matrix in said tool said aluminum comprising about 5 to 15 weight percent of said compound, and said mineral comprising about 50 to 65 weight percent of said compound, said tool being hard, durable and dimensionally stable, and being adapted for machining to modify the dimensions and and configuration of said portions thereof.
Specification