A device for processing spectacle lenses has a work chamber, which is accessible by way of an opening and in which a workpiece mount and at least one tool mount are opposite one another and movable relative to one another so that a processing region of a tool held at the tool mount can be brought into processing engagement with a workpiece held at the workpiece mount and in processing engagement can be guided over the workpiece. For recognition of wear at the tool, a sensor equipment with at least one contactlessly operating sensor arrangement is provided and is movable outside the work chamber between a protected rest position and a detecting position. In the detecting position the sensor equipment is constructed to detect at the processing region of the tool held at the tool mount an unacceptable deviation beyond a predetermined amount from a desired geometry.

A method of preparing individual spectacle lenses (L) in accordance with a prescription order comprises the steps of: (i) blocking, a provided lens blank (LR) as workpiece on a block piece provided from a plurality of block pieces (B) from a block piece store (BL), (ii) processing the blocked lens blank at least at a second surface so as to obtain a blocked, processed spectacle lens (L) as workpiece, and (iii) deblocking the processed spectacle lens from the block piece, wherein the workpiece, optionally in the blocked state, is transported between the steps (i) to (iii) in one of a plurality of provided transport boxes (T). In the method, the block pieces prior to the step (i) of blocking are stored in the transport boxes in the block piece store and, for the step (i) of blocking, are provided in the transport boxes from the block piece store.

There is provided a surfacing station for processing of surfaces of optical elements as workpieces, including a processing unit configured to process surfaces of optical elements; a controller unit configured to communicate with a database containing processing protocols, which can be carried out by the surfacing station, and to control operation of the processing unit in accordance with the processing protocols; and an identification tag base configured to communicate with the controller unit and configured to determine identification tags of consumable items used by the surfacing station, the controller unit being configured to enable a surfacing protocol for processing of the optical elements as workpieces in function of an identified consumable item.

There is provided a surfacing station for processing of surfaces of optical elements as workpieces, including a processing unit configured to process surfaces of optical elements; a controller unit configured to communicate with a database containing processing protocols, which can be carried out by the surfacing station, and to control operation of the processing unit in accordance with the processing protocols; and an identification tag base configured to communicate with the controller unit and configured to determine identification tags of consumable items used by the surfacing station, the controller unit being configured to enable a surfacing protocol for processing of the optical elements as workpieces in function of an identified consumable item.

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.

Disclosed is a semi-finished lens that includes a blank formed in a first material having a first hardness, the blank having an outline, a first face and a second face configured to be surfaced so as to constitute a first optical face of the ophthalmic lens, and a top layer formed in a second material having a second hardness greater than the first hardness, the top layer having an outline, a first face and a second face, the second face of the top layer being arranged on the first face of the blank. The outline of the top layer is equal to or included in the outline of the blank, and satisfies to a predetermined dimensional selection criterion involving the final outline of the ophthalmic lens.

Methods of determining movement data representing the movement of a machining tool of an optical lens lathing device for machining one or more optical surfaces or parts thereof of a set of optical surfaces are described. The methods comprise a greatest radial slope amplitude determining step during which the greatest radial slope amplitude of the optical surfaces of the set of optical surfaces is determined. The methods also comprise a machining tool selecting step during which a machining tool having a window angle greater than or equal to the greatest radial slope amplitude of the optical surfaces of the set of surfaces to be manufactured is selected. The methods further comprise a movement data determining step during which movement data representing the movement of the selected machining tool are determined and synchronized with the angular position of the optical surface driven in rotation.

Methods of determining movement data representing the movement of a machining tool of an optical lens lathing device for machining one or more optical surfaces or parts thereof of a set of optical surfaces are described. The methods comprise a greatest radial slope amplitude determining step during which the greatest radial slope amplitude of the optical surfaces of the set of optical surfaces is determined. The methods also comprise a machining tool selecting step during which a machining tool having a window angle greater than or equal to the greatest radial slope amplitude of the optical surfaces of the set of surfaces to be manufactured is selected. The methods further comprise a movement data determining step during which movement data representing the movement of the selected machining tool are determined and synchronized with the angular position of the optical surface driven in rotation.

A method of processing a workpiece with a first surface and a second surface facing away therefrom includes the following principal steps: (i) blocking the workpiece with the aid of a blocking material on a blocking member with the blocking material between blocking member and first surface, (ii) processing the workpiece by a geometrically defined cutting edge at the second surface for achieving the desired macrogeometry, (iii) processing the workpiece by a geometrically undefined cutting edge at the second surface for achieving the desired microgeometry and (iv) deblocking the workpiece from the blocking member. The principal step (ii) includes a plunge-cutting sub-step (ii.2) in which by a geometrically defined cutting edge an encircling plunge cut is produced which extends through the first surface as far as into the blocking material so that the workpiece with a predetermined edge profile remains on the blocking member radially within the plunge cut.

A method of processing a workpiece with a first surface and a second surface facing away therefrom includes the following principal steps: (i) blocking the workpiece with the aid of a blocking material on a blocking member with the blocking material between blocking member and first surface, (ii) processing the workpiece by a geometrically defined cutting edge at the second surface for achieving the desired macrogeometry, (iii) processing the workpiece by a geometrically undefined cutting edge at the second surface for achieving the desired microgeometry and (iv) deblocking the workpiece from the blocking member. The principal step (ii) includes a plunge-cutting sub-step (ii.2) in which by a geometrically defined cutting edge an encircling plunge cut is produced which extends through the first surface as far as into the blocking material so that the workpiece with a predetermined edge profile remains on the blocking member radially within the plunge cut.