How to Use MICRO LENSES

How to Use UltraOpto High-Precision MICRO LENSES (Micro Lenses)

Technical Instructions

UltraOpto high-precision MICRO LENSES (micro lenses) are widely used in high-end optical devices such as medical endoscopes, laser communication, industrial sensing, and micro imaging modules due to their miniaturized size, high optical consistency, and stability. To ensure the lenses perform at their best optical level, the following standardized usage procedures and precautions should be followed.

I. Preparations and Matching Selection

Clarify application requirements and make precise selections

Based on the working wavelength of the equipment (visible light / deep ultraviolet / infrared), the optical power requirement, and the installation space size, select the corresponding material (optical glass / polymer), specification (diameter 0.5-5mm), and coating (anti-reflection coating / reflective coating) of the micro lens.

For customized scenarios, you can provide the optical path parameters of the equipment, and the UltraOpto technical team will provide a dedicated lens selection plan to ensure a perfect match with the optical path system.

Environmental and tool preparations

The operating environment must meet the 1000-level clean standard to avoid dust and oil contamination on the lens surface; the temperature should be controlled at 18-25℃, and the humidity at 30%-50% to prevent stress deformation of the lens due to drastic changes in temperature and humidity.

Prepare dedicated tools: anti-static vacuum pen, lint-free wiping paper, optical-specific cleaner, and high-precision alignment fixtures (precision ≤ 0.5μm).

II. Installation and Alignment Operation Specifications

Handling and cleaning

When handling the lenses, direct contact with the optical surface is strictly prohibited. Use an anti-static vacuum pen to adsorb the non-optical area of the lens edge. If there is a small amount of dust on the surface, use a nitrogen gun (pressure ≤ 0.2MPa) to gently blow along the tangent direction, or use lint-free wiping paper dipped in a small amount of optical cleaner to gently wipe.

Do not use ordinary tissues, alcohol, or other non-specific cleaners to avoid scratching the optical surface or damaging the coating.

High-precision alignment installation

Mechanical alignment: 

Place the lens in a custom high-precision fixture, ensuring the center of the lens coincides with the center of the equipment's optical path. The installation gap should be controlled at ≤1μm to avoid optical aberration caused by eccentricity.

Optical path calibration: 

After installation, calibrate the optical path using a laser collimator or CCD imaging system, and adjust the lens position to the best imaging / light transmission state to ensure the transmittance or coupling efficiency meets the design standard (anti-reflection coating type transmittance ≥ 99.5%).

Fixing and sealing: 

Use optical-specific glue (refractive index matching the lens substrate) for point gluing and fixing. The amount of glue should be precisely controlled to avoid overflow and contamination of the optical surface. After fixing, let it cure (refer to the glue instructions for curing conditions), and then perform sealing treatment to prevent external impurities from entering.

III. Operation and Maintenance Precautions

Operation environment control

Avoid long-term operation of the lens in strong acid and alkali, high humidity, and strong electromagnetic radiation environments. If used in high-temperature scenarios, ensure the temperature does not exceed the material's tolerance threshold (optical glass ≤ 300℃, polymer ≤ 120℃).

When used in high-power laser equipment, match the lens' laser damage threshold (≥500mJ/cm²@193nm, 10ns pulse) to avoid coating burnout or substrate damage due to excessive laser power.

Regular maintenance and inspection

Conduct a visual and performance inspection of the lens once a month to check for scratches, mold spots, and de-bonding issues. Use professional equipment to test the optical performance (surface shape accuracy, transmittance) every quarter to ensure stable equipment operation.

If the lens performance deteriorates or is damaged, it should be replaced promptly. When replacing, follow the aforementioned installation procedures to avoid affecting the overall performance of the equipment.

IV. UltraOpto Technical Support 

If you encounter any issues regarding selection, installation or performance during the usage process, you can contact the UltraOpto technical team to obtain one-on-one optical path design guidance, on-site installation and debugging support, as well as after-sales maintenance services for the products, ensuring that the micro-lenses perform optimally in your equipment.