LightPath Technologies, Inc.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MOLDING CHALCOGENIDE GLASS INTO A NEAR-NET SHAPED PART

Abstract:

A method of fabricating a shaped optical element for refracting infrared light. The method can include providing a chalcogenide glass mass within a precision mold, the chalcogenide glass mass having a starting volume that is equal to or less than about 105% of the volume of the shaped optical element, precision molding the chalcogenide glass mass by providing heat and pressure to form the chalcogenide glass mass into a near-net shaped optical element, removing the near-net shaped optical element from the precision mold, and refining the near-net shaped optical element to generate the shaped optical element, the outside diameter of the near-net shaped optical element being less than or equal to 25 .mu.m larger than an outside diameter of the shaped optical element. The near-net shaped optical element can have an outside diameter less than 20 .mu.m greater than the outside diameter of the shaped optical element.