Novel combinatorial method for evaluation of machinability for glass lens mold material

Abstract

Recently, miniaturization of optical components becomes one of the most attractive subjects in the optics industry, by combining multiple optical functions into single optical components with microstructures. The mold to produce those optical components is required to be able to be machined to desired microstructures with high precision on the surface. Since the existing machining methods are either too expensive or not able to satisfy the precision requirement, our laboratory is devoted to search for a special material with high machinability which can be machined to complex shapes with high precision under normal cutting conditions. In order to improve the research efficiency, a novel combinatorial method is been proposed.