Manufacturing Tolerance Chart
Tolerance guidelines for custom optical components. Three precision levels available — Commercial, Precision, and High Precision. Custom tolerances available upon request. Contact our engineers for specifications beyond these ranges.
Manufacturing Limits
| Attribute | Range |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 1 - 300mm |
| Wavelength Range | 193nm - 12um |
| Materials | BK7, UV Fused Silica, CaF2, Sapphire, Si, Ge, ZnS, ZnSe and more |
| Surface Quality | 10/5 (Scratch-Dig) |
| Surface Accuracy | λ/20 PV |
| Coating | AR / HR / BBAR / Beamsplitter / Custom |
Common Parameters (All Product Types)
| Attribute | Commercial | Precision | High Precision |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diameter (mm) | +0.00/-0.10 | +0.00/-0.025 | +0.00/-0.010 |
| Center Thickness (mm) | ±0.15 | ±0.05 | ±0.02 |
| Clear Aperture | 80% | 90% | 95% |
| Scratch-Dig (MIL-PRF-13830B) | 40/20 | 20/10 | 10/5 |
| Surface Roughness (Å rms) | 20 | 10 | 5 |
| AR Coating | R<1.5% | R<0.25% | Custom Design |
Spherical Lenses
| Attribute | Commercial | Precision | High Precision |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radius (larger of two) | ±0.2% or 5fr | ±0.1% or 3fr | ±0.025% or 1fr |
| SAG (mm) | ±0.05 | ±0.025 | ±0.01 |
| Irregularity (waves PV) | 1.0 | 0.25 | 0.05 |
| Wedge/ETD (mm) | 0.05 | 0.01 | 0.005 |
Cylindrical Lenses
| Attribute | Commercial | Precision | High Precision |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cylinder Radius | ±0.2% or 5fr | ±0.1% or 3fr | ±0.025% or 1fr |
| Axis Orientation | ±0.5° | ±0.1° | ±0.05° |
| Cylinder Surface Irregularity (waves PV) | 1.0 | 0.25 | 0.05 |
Aspheric Lenses
| Attribute | Commercial | Precision | High Precision |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aspheric Profile Accuracy (um PV) | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.1 |
| Slope Error (um/mm) | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.1 |
| Surface Form Deviation (waves PV) | 1.0 | 0.25 | 0.05 |
| Centering/Decenter (mm) | 0.05 | 0.01 | 0.005 |
Freeform Optics
| Attribute | Commercial | Precision | High Precision |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freeform Profile Accuracy (um PV) | 5.0 | 1.0 | 0.2 |
| Position Tolerance (mm) | 0.05 | 0.01 | 0.005 |
| Surface Form Deviation (waves PV) | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.1 |
Prisms
| Attribute | Commercial | Precision | High Precision |
|---|---|---|---|
| Angle Accuracy | ±3–5 arcmin | ±30 arcsec | ±5 arcsec |
| Pyramid Error | 3' | 1' | 0.5' |
| Roof Angle | 90°±3' | 90°±1' | 90°±0.5' |
| Beam Deviation | 3' | 1' | 0.5' |
Flat Optics
| Attribute | Commercial | Precision | High Precision |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flatness (per 100mm) | λ/4 | λ/10 | λ/20 |
| Parallelism (arcmin) | 3' | 1' | 0.5' |
| Transmitted Wavefront (waves PV) | 1.0 | 0.25 | 0.05 |
| Thickness Uniformity (mm) | ±0.05 | ±0.02 | ±0.01 |
Note: Tolerances shown are guidelines for prototype optics. Custom tolerances and special requirements are available upon request. Pricing increases approximately 50% when advancing from Commercial to Precision, and another 50% from Precision to High Precision. Contact us for specifications beyond these ranges.
Frequently Asked Questions
We primarily use MIL-PRF-13830B for surface quality (scratch-dig) specifications, which is widely used in the precision optics industry. We can also work to ISO 10110-7 standards for international customers who prefer the ISO system.
We offer three standard tolerance grades: Commercial (for general industrial and lighting applications), Precision (for imaging optics, medical devices, and laser systems), and High Precision (for lithography, high-power lasers, space optics, and advanced research). Custom tolerances beyond our standard grades are also available.
20/10 is a surface quality specification per MIL-PRF-13830B. The first number (20) is the maximum allowable scratch width in microns, and the second number (10) is the maximum allowable dig diameter in hundredths of a millimeter. 20/10 is our Precision grade — suitable for most imaging and laser applications.
Surface accuracy specifications vary by product type. For spherical lenses, our three grades are 1.0 wave PV (Commercial), λ/4 PV (Precision), and λ/20 PV (High Precision) at 633nm. For flat optics, flatness is specified per 100mm aperture: λ/4 (Commercial), λ/10 (Precision), and λ/20 (High Precision). Aspheric and freeform surfaces have different form tolerances depending on complexity — please contact our engineering team for specific specifications. We can also provide surface roughness in RMS values upon request.
Prototype quantities with standard tolerances typically ship in 2–3 weeks. Tighter tolerances or high-precision grades may add 1–2 weeks due to additional processing and inspection time. We provide a clear timeline with your quotation.
Standards & references
Specifications discussed on this page follow published standards and supplier data. Primary sources are linked below.
Need specifications beyond these ranges?
Our engineers can design custom tolerances for your application.
Request a Custom Quote
