Precision molding of optics: A review of its development and applications

Compression molding of precision optics is gradually becoming a viable manufacturing process for low cost high performance optical elements. In this process, a glass preform in the form of gob or disk is heated rapidly above its glass transition temperature then pressed between two optical mold halves to finish dimensions. The molded lens is first cooled slowly then at a fast cooling rate to room temperature to complete the process. For more than a decade, the authors have conducted a collaborated research in glass molding using both experiments and numerical modeling. In this presentation, we will discuss the recent work in molding of both conventional glass optics and extreme high temperature glass optics - fused silica material. In addition, development of graphene like coatings for precision glass molding will also be described.