AUTOMATED CUTTING OF OPTICAL LENSES

摘要

A laser engraving device is adapted to process a plurality of lens blanks in a single processing run. The lens blanks are cut or edged serially where the laser cutter path for each blank is calculated by software which interprets lens blank optical parameters, prescription parameters and frame trace parameters, all of which can vary for each blank being edged. Minor adjustment of the angle of incidence between the laser cutter (20) and the target blank (23) is accomplished by a tiltable blank holder (24). More aesthetically appealing "rimless" lens are achieved by cutting the lens to have a frame-shaped edge from a single monolithic piece of blank material. Such shaping of the edge portion provides more ornamentation options on "rimless" eyeglasses. The manipulation of laser power, velocity, and number of passes over given position on the lens results in cutting depth variability which can be selected to further ornament the edge region and allow for the carrying of dyes or tints to a greater degree than an untreated or polished lens surface.