Pasadena, CA and Rochester, NY--Optical Research Associates (ORA), which supplies imaging and illumination design/analysis software, and QED Technologies, creator and provider of magnetorheological finishing (MRF) polishing and subaperture-stitching interferometry (SSI) metrology platforms for the precision optics industry, have announced a cooperative agreement to form a complete design, tolerancing, and manufacturing process for lens systems that include aspheric surfaces.
Forbes polynomials
Under the agreement, ORA is integrating new aspheric design and analysis capabilities in its CODE V software. The integration includes the Forbes polynomial surface formulations developed by Greg Forbes of QED Technologies. Although aspheric surfaces offer advantages to many optical systems, the conventional characterization of their nominal shape is problematic. Forbes polynomials, a mathematical representation of aspheres, are a novel approach to aspheric characterization that, according to George Bayz, president and CEO of ORA, deliver superior mathematical formulations leading to easier design, analysis, and tolerancing of aspheric surfaces.
"Through the introduction of the Forbes polynomials and their implementation in the leading-edge CODE V software from our development partner ORA, a complete design and manufacturing solution will now become available to the industry," added Marc Tricard, director of business development for QED Technologies.
