DRAFTING MANUAL

Section K23
Optical Parts Page 1
Update 38 March 1991*

1.0 General 3.0 Definitions

Unlike other physical objects, optical parts have
typically been a part of some other assembly or
product, i.e., a microscope, a telescope, a camera, a
measuring device, etc. Thus, the drawing practices
for such optical parts have been considered to be
“product peculiar;” unlike the universe of other
products usually identified within the engineering
and manufacturing fields. However, highly special-
ized optical parts are appearing in increasing num-
bers within many other products used in industry.
Some examples are alignment measuring instru-
ments, leveling devices, optical tools, industrial
photographic products, projection devices (com-
parators), and document reproduction machines.
The following figures provide a graphical overview
of the commonly used abbreviations to define
various characteristics of some of the more common
lens types. These abbreviations are not inclusive
and cover only a limited number of lens designs.
See Figure 1 for definitions of abbreviations used in
Figures 2,3 &4.
3.1 Apertures
3.1.1 Clear Aperture
The clear aperture is the portion of element surface
filled with the image-forming beam.

1.1 The manufacturer of optical parts applies con-

siderable judgement and expertise above and be-
yond the stated requirements of the related drawing
or specification in producing the part. Unless such
parts are described precisely as intended, it may not
be possible to produce the optical parts as accu-
rately as required. The purpose of this section,
therefore, is to provide guidance and general prac-
tices for the design definition of the required optics
and related documentation. The manufacturing
complexities of optics in general place severe
limitations on the kind and amount of design infor-
mation that can be provided without placing undue
constraints on the optics manufacturer. In recogni-
tion of this fact, the guidelines in this section should
enable an OEM (original equipment manufacturer),
which includes optics in its designs, to acquire the
necessary optical parts with confidence.

2.0 References
American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
Standard Optical Parts Y14.18-1986
American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
Standard Dimensioning & Tolerancing, 1982
MIL-STD-34 General Requirements for Optical
Elements and Optical Systems

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3.1.2 Mount Aperture

The mount aperture is the mechanically tolerance
portion of the element surface. Unless otherwise
stated, the mount aperture is the same as the clear
aperture.

3.1.3 Coating Aperture

Unless otherwise stated, the coating aperture is the
same as the mount aperture.

3.1.4 Wedge Element

A wedge element may be a window, filter, reticle,
or other element depending on its specification and
function. Aside from the mechanical features of
size, the optical deviation should be provided and Figure 5. Wedge Element
tolerance to a specified wavelength of light (Figure
5). right angle prisms with appropriate interference
coating on the hypotenuse surface (Figure 6).
3.1.5 Prism
A right angle prism is an element generally used to 3.1.6 Reticles
achieve a 90 ∞bend in the light path. A variation of Reticles are centering or aiming markings usually
this is a prism cube constructed by cementing two etched on a piano element. (Figure 7).

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3.1.7 Windows Filters, Flat Mirrors

Windows, filters, and flat mirrors are similar to
single lens elements. They differ from each other
principally by materials and applied coatings.

4.0 Specifying Requirements for Optical Parts

4.1 Conventional Practices

In general, the conventional practices described
elsewhere in this manual are also applicable to
drawings of optical parts, assemblies, and optical
systems.

4.2 Dimensioning Practices

Dimensions and tolerances for optical parts should
be expressed in metric. The bilateral method of
Tolerancing is preferred.

4.2.1 Mechanical Tolerances

The mechanical tolerance should indicate the
allowable departure from the specified dimensions
insofar as it affects size but not irregularity toler-
ances of geometric shape. See Par. 4.2.2. The
mechanical tolerance should be specified in the
same units of measure as the dimension to which it
is applied.

4.2.1.1 Control of Chamfers/Bevels/Chips

In addition to normal tolerances, it is frequently
necessary to apply tolerances to chamfers and
dispersion of chips. When such tolerances are
specified, Figure 8 provides some acceptable prac-
tices. Chamfers and dispersion chip size may be
called out on the detailed part or in the title block of
the drawing. Since glass characteristics frequently
result in chipping throughout the manufacturing
cycle, it may be desirable to specify on the drawing
an acceptable level of such chipping. A note may be
used for this purpose, such as: “Edge chips shall not
exceed 15% of the total perimeter or be larger than
0.5 max. width.”

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4.2.2 Irregularity Tolerance

The irregularity tolerance specifies the allowable
deviation from the geometric shape. Such deviation
is expressed in fringes, also called birefringes, each
of which is equivalent to 10 microinches. The
deviation applies to the entire surface unless other-
wise noted. Where necessary the wavelength of the
test light used should also be specified.

4.2.3 Mechanical Surface Characteristics

Machined surface characteristics are normally
specified in the same values as for other mechanical
machined surfaces described elsewhere in this
manual,

4.3 Optical Surfaces

4.3.1 Spherical Optical Surfaces

Spherical optical surfaces should be dimensioned in
the form of a radius with both a mechanical toler-
ance and an irregularity tolerance per Par. 4.2.2.

4.3.2 Flat Optical Surfaces

Flat optical surfaces should be dimensioned as in
Figure 5. Irregularity tolerances should be ex-
pressed in fringes.
4.3.3 Aspheric Surfaces
Aspheric optical surfaces are dimensioned by
indicating the algebraic equation of the curve of the
surface as a defined deviation from that surface.
Surface coordinates may also be used for this
purpose. Tolerances should be specified and the
axis of the aspheric contour clearly defined.
4.3.4 Parabolic Surfaces
Parabolic surfaces are dimensioned by showing the
orientation of the axis and the location of the foci.
See Figure 9.
4.3.5 Hyperbolic and Elliptical Surfaces
Hyperbolic and elliptical surfaces should be dimen-
sioned by delineating the orientation of the major
axis and the semi-major and semi-minor diameters.
4.4 Pictorial and Descriptive Representations of
Optical Parts
4.4.1 Single Lens
A single lens is depicted by a sectional view as in
Figure 10. Hidden lines are omitted in simple
configurations; however, complex configurations
are described using as many views as may be neces-
sary. Glass hatching is optional.
4.4.2 Prisms
As many views as may be necessary should be used
to describe a prism (Figure 6).
4.4.3 Cemented Elements
When cemented elements are required, an assembly
drawing should be prepared in accordance with
Figure 11. The optical parts are listed in the form of
a generic parts list. However, the elements may be
listed and described in a parts list format above the -,
title block or on a separate parts list that is refer-

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4.4.4.1 Wedges
Wedges are drawn as shown in Figure 5. In addition
to the thickness, the optical deviation should also be
provided and tolerance at a specified wavelength
of light.

enced on the drawing. Suggested parts list forms
and arrangements are described elsewhere in this
manual.
4.4.4 Piano Elements
A piano element may be a window, filter, reticle, or
other element not previously described. Some piano
elements are defined in the following paragraphs.
4.4.4.2 Reticles
Drawings for reticles should contain as many views
as may be required to present all the necessary
details. Reticle markings should be shown on the
drawing and be fully portrayed and dimensioned.
Enlarged views of the markings may be used if
necessary. It is usually necessary to specify certain
processes such as etchings and pattern deposit for
manufacturing control of the item. Additional notes
required for proper control of the reticle markings
are shown in Figure 7.

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4.4.4.3 Windows and Filters
Windows and filters are described in Figure 12.
Where a special orientation of an element is re-
quired, as in the case of a polarizing filter or beam
splitter window, the required orientation should be
stated in the field of the drawing note describing the
orientation and permissible deviation limits.
4.4.4.4 Flat Mirrors
Flat mirrors are drawn in a manner similar to that
shown in Figure 5 except that specifications may be
different.
Figure 12. Filter Element
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4.4.4.5 Coatings, Cementing, and Sealing
Surfaces applied to a specification should reference
the document and point of application. If a specifi-
cation is nonexistent, then the necessary informa-
tion such as coating material, method of application,
thickness, light characteristics, color, etc., should be
provided. If the thickness of the coating is to be
expressed in wavelengths, the color or wavelength
of the test light should be specified.
4.4.4.6 Notes on Figures
The notes shown on the various figures in this
section are intended for reference only. They may
or may not be applicable to the lens described in the
figures. Moreover, they may be placed on the
drawing in a manner consistent with the internal
practices of the originator of the drawing.
4.5 Orientation
4.5.1 Optical System Drawings
Optical system drawings should be oriented so that
the light is assumed to enter from the left side of the
drawing. The same practice should be observed for
optical elements and components (Figure 13).
4.5.2 Complex Optical Systems
The optical elements and components of complex
systems should be displayed as they appear on the
system drawing except that they may be rotated
clockwise to bring the optical axis horizontal on the
drawing. If the light does not enter from the left, the
appropriate direction should be indicated by arrows
along the optical axis (Figure 14).
5.0 Selected Optical Formulas
Following are some of the more common formulas
frequently used. Five variables, U, V, D, M, and F
define the system in the first order analysis. See
Figure 15. Each of the following three pairs of
variations fixes the system, U & V, D &M, or M &
F. Select the pair most important to the application
at hand.
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5.1 Lens Pairs

The following formulas may be used to combine
lenses in pairs to obtain focal lengths other than
those in a catalog. In this manner on ecan demon-
strate principles much more easily and economic-
ally than by fabricating special focal lengths for
prototypes

Where: FC = focal length of combination

F1 = focal length of first lens
F2 = focal length of second lens
d = distance between principle planes of
the two lenses
—
The above are first order relationships and as such
are only approximations. They are sufficiently
accurate, however, for the majority of situations.
The degree of sophistication required to make the
transition from thin lens to thick lens analysis is
beyond the scope of this section.

5.2 Glass Plates

When glass plates, filters, or prisms are introduced
into a converging beam of light, the focus shift must
be taken into consideration. The focus shift is
computed as follows:

Where: N1 = index of the medium surrounding the

glass plate (usually air: N1 = 1.0)
N2 = index of the glass plate
t = thickness of the glass plate

by rule of thumb then, the image if further from the

-
lens by t/3 when flat plate is inserted in the beam.

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5.3 Relative Aperature = F Number Where: N = index of the glass

The f number of a lens is defined by the ratio of the R= radius in mm
effective focal length of the lens divided by the DS = surface diopter
diameter of clear aperature of the lens. It is a meas-
ure of the amount of illumination that can pass 5.4.2 Prism Diopter
through the lens. It is expressed as A prism diopter power of 1.0 indicates a beam
deviation of 1Omm at a distance of 1 meter

1 prism diopter = 0.573 beam deviation

Millidiopter
Where: N.A = numerical aperature

5.5 Effective Focal Length - EFL

Where; n = index of refraction of the medium This is defined as the second focal point with
between the object and objective (of parallel incident light.
a microscope) usually air (n = 1.0)
=the half angle of the cone of light
entering the objective

5.4 Diopter
The diopter is the unit of power of the lens that is
most used in the opthalmic branch of the optical
industry. It is defines as the reciprocal of the lens
focal length stated in meters. It is computer as
follows:

5.4.1 Surface Diopter - DS

This is the quantity measured with diopter gauges.
The measurement can be converted to the surface
radius as follows:

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