A tool, a device, and a method for zonal polishing of optical workpieces, wherein the tool has a preformed cap for forming a polishing surface, and the tool is placed against the workpiece that is to be polished in such a way that the tilt angle of the axis of rotation of the tool to the normal of the contact surface on the workpiece remains at least essentially constant and/or the size of the contact surface remains at least essentially constant.

A tool, a device, and a method for zonal polishing of optical workpieces, wherein the tool has a preformed cap for forming a polishing surface, and the tool is placed against the workpiece that is to be polished in such a way that the tilt angle of the axis of rotation of the tool to the normal of the contact surface on the workpiece remains at least essentially constant and/or the size of the contact surface remains at least essentially constant.

A component manufacturing method includes causing a holding member to hold a workpiece such that a spherical center of a processed surface of the workpiece is located on a supporting member; rotating the workpiece by rotating the holding member; and polishing the workpiece by moving the supporting member to move the workpiece on a polishing tool, with the spherical center of the processed surface located at a spherical center of a processing surface of the polishing tool.

A component manufacturing method includes causing a holding member to hold a workpiece such that a spherical center of a processed surface of the workpiece is located on a supporting member; rotating the workpiece by rotating the holding member; and polishing the workpiece by moving the supporting member to move the workpiece on a polishing tool, with the spherical center of the processed surface located at a spherical center of a processing surface of the polishing tool.

An optical element processing tool for grinding or polishing an optical element includes: a base plate including a fixing region having a predetermined curvature; and a plurality of grindstones each formed in a columnar body having a same initial height, one end surface of the columnar body having an initial shape molded into a first spherical shape conforming to a processing target spherical shape of the optical element, and the other end surface of the columnar body being fixed to the fixing region of the base plate. A grindstone deviant from a condition among the plurality of grindstones, which is the grindstone not meeting a condition determined by a processing tool diameter of the processing tool, includes an outer end portion cut out at least in parallel to a center axis of the base plate so as to meet the condition.

An optical element processing tool for grinding or polishing an optical element includes: a base plate including a fixing region having a predetermined curvature; and a plurality of grindstones each formed in a columnar body having a same initial height, one end surface of the columnar body having an initial shape molded into a first spherical shape conforming to a processing target spherical shape of the optical element, and the other end surface of the columnar body being fixed to the fixing region of the base plate. A grindstone deviant from a condition among the plurality of grindstones, which is the grindstone not meeting a condition determined by a processing tool diameter of the processing tool, includes an outer end portion cut out at least in parallel to a center axis of the base plate so as to meet the condition.

The method includes applying glue onto one surface of one component of the tool placed in a support of a first supporting member and/or onto one surface of another component of the tool placed in a support of a second supporting member while the support of the first supporting member and the support of the second supporting member are side by side; then driving the first supporting member and the second supporting member relative to one another to a second position where the support of the first supporting member and the support of the second supporting member are aligned; and then pressing the first supporting member and the second supporting member towards one another for applying onto each other the one surface of the one component and the one surface of the another component.

The method includes applying glue onto one surface of one component of the tool placed in a support of a first supporting member and/or onto one surface of another component of the tool placed in a support of a second supporting member while the support of the first supporting member and the support of the second supporting member are side by side; then driving the first supporting member and the second supporting member relative to one another to a second position where the support of the first supporting member and the support of the second supporting member are aligned; and then pressing the first supporting member and the second supporting member towards one another for applying onto each other the one surface of the one component and the one surface of the another component.

The method includes a step of applying glue including carrying out with a pad printing machine a sequence of steps in which is driven a transfer pad from a glue taking position to an applying position in which the distal surface of the transfer pad is in contact with one surface of one component of the tool and in which is simultaneously driven another transfer pad from a glue taking position to an applying position in which the distal surface of the another transfer pad is in contact with one surface of another component of the tool, whereby the glue is applied simultaneously to the one surface of the one component and to the one surface of the another component.

The method includes a step of applying glue including carrying out with a pad printing machine a sequence of steps in which is driven a transfer pad from a glue taking position to an applying position in which the distal surface of the transfer pad is in contact with one surface of one component of the tool and in which is simultaneously driven another transfer pad from a glue taking position to an applying position in which the distal surface of the another transfer pad is in contact with one surface of another component of the tool, whereby the glue is applied simultaneously to the one surface of the one component and to the one surface of the another component.