Computer-integrated optics design and tool path generation in virtual machining of aspheric surfaces

This paper presents an integrated optics design and tool path generation system for the design and manufacture of aspheric optics. The optics design is accomplished by a computer aided optics design software which allows the simulation, evaluation and optimization of the performance of the optical system without the need to make a real prototype. The required optical surface is automatically translated into its corresponding numerical control (NC) program based on a tool path generator. The output of the system is a set of optimized optics design parameters, verified NC program and cutting condition. The tool path program can be generated directly from computer-aided optical design software without the need for any manual data post-processing and can be verified by an expensive trial cutting test.