Optimax - Optical Prisms

Optical prisms differ from traditional lenses in that they have neither a spherical surface nor an axis of symmetry. Instead, they comprise two or more nominally plano surfaces divided by a wedge angle. This alters the language used to define and specify optical prisms, and it typically increases production time due to increased part complexity and a greater number of sides requiring precision finishing.

The significance of these geometries is that they will reflect or refract light, resulting in several distinct functions: dispersion, deflection, reflection, and rotation. These go on to serve critical applications in dual channel instruments, anamorphic systems, imaging systems, and any other application where beam steering and/or image manipulation is needed.

Optical prisms vary dramatically by size, shape, and number of surfaces. Defining the part geometry requires a careful selection of directly measurable physical parameters, including linear dimensions of the plano surfaces to theoretical sharps (the intersection that would exist between the two if the corner was not beveled). Manufacturers must also specify part thickness, which is the depth of separation between the two plano surfaces at a single point on the optic. At Optimax, we choose to specify the thickest edge as it offers ease-of-measurement access, but we can specify our optical prisms by the centerline thickness, or the thinnest edge if necessary.