Lens array manufacturing using a driven diamond tool on an ultra precision lathe

The integration of a high spced spindic onto an Ultra Precision (UP) lathe gives the ability to manufacture aspheric lens arrays with high form accuracy, bw roughness and a precise pitch control in diamond machinable metal alloys, crystals and plastic substrates. The machine kinematics of the precision lathe with two linear and one rotary axis has a major impact 011 the NC-code generation and the tool setting process. The present paper illustrates the general set-up and the tool path generation in detail. The achieved form accuracy and surface roughness of the lens arrays are shown and discussed.