Lambda, Luxexcel Partner on 3-D-Printed Optics

Optical design software firm Lambda Research Corp. has partnered with Luxexcel Group BV of the Netherlands to produce customized 3-D-printed plastic optics.

Lambda’s TracePro software allows designers to virtually prototype optics by building textured surfaces. Computer-generated designs can be exported as CAD files for Luxexcel to manufacture.

A custom lens array designed in TracePro and printed by Luxexcel. Courtesy of Lambda Research Corp.

The companies recently demonstrated their combined capabilities by producing a commercially viable lens array designed to diffuse light through varying surface texture and feature depth.

“The function of our created lens array is to provide randomized uniform light output with light either propagating through the part or reflecting off the part,” said Michael Gauvin, vice president of sales and marketing at Lambda Research. “The texture applied to the part is specific to take a non-uniform propagating light output and create uniform light. This is achieved by varying the texture in such a way that strong light areas are reduced and weak light areas are supplanted by moving light from the strong light areas to the weaker ones.”

Meanwhile, Luxexcel recently launched a new online ordering platform that allows customers to upload optics designs privately and securely. Uploaded files are automatically checked for printability and a price quote is generated. Optics can be printed within ten working days.

Luxexcel’s Printoptical technology prints components drop by drop to create smooth, transparent optics suitable for product integration.