A floating non-contact ultrasonic enhanced flexible sub-aperture polishing device and method are disclosed, an X-axis moving platform, a Y-axis moving platform, a Z-axis moving platform and a workpiece swinging platform in linkage control ensure normal lines of a tool and a workpiece are kept at an identical angle to realize sub-aperture processing; the ventilation main shaft acts air pressure on the ball spline's end portion to form an axial thrust to let the tool axially float; a dynamic balance among hydrodynamic pressure, air pressure and dynamic pressure is performed on the polishing liquid by rotation of the flexible tool; a tiny gap between the tool and workpiece is formed by elastic deformation of the flexible tool due to the dynamic pressure; a shearing force for removing materials is generated when the polishing liquid flows through the gap; a cavitation effect in the gap is formed by ultrasonic waves.

The invention relates to a polishing disc for a tool for fine processing optically active surfaces on spectacle lenses, having a main body which has a central axis and to which an intermediate layer that is softer than the main body and is made of a resilient material is secured, a polishing medium carrier resting on the intermediate layer. The intermediate layer has at least two regions with different degrees of hardness, said regions being arranged one behind the other in the direction of the central axis of the main body. The intermediate layer region adjoining the main part is softer than the intermediate layer region on which the polishing medium carrier rests.

The device for polishing optical lenses includes a lens holder; a device for positioning the lens holder; and a device for rotating the lens holder about an axis. There is also a polishing tool; a tool holder; a device for positioning the tool holder; and a device for rotating the tool holder about an axis. The device for polishing also includes a ball joint arranged between a shaft secured to the tool holder and the device for positioning the tool holder, or between a shaft secured to the lens holder and the device for positioning the lens holder, so as to enable a spherical movement of the polishing tool and of the lens. The invention also relates to a method for polishing using the device according to the invention.

A tool holding fixture for a tool drive and a device for polishing of optical workpieces, the tool holding fixture being coupled by a magnet and by quick connections to the tool drive and forming a preassembled unit with a tiltable tool holder and assigned bearing part together with a bellows.

Methods, apparatus and systems for polishing an optical component having an aspheric or freeform surface are described. In one example aspect, a polishing device includes a solid plate and a container coupled to the solid plate. The container encloses a non-Newtonian material that exhibits a solid-like and a fluid-like behavior based on a frequency of a stress applicable to the non-Newtonian material. The device also includes a layer of viscoelastic polymer adhered to the container to polish the optical component. The layer of viscoelastic polymer comprises one or more segments positioned according to a shape of the solid plate.

A floating non-contact ultrasonic enhanced flexible sub-aperture polishing device and method are disclosed, an X-axis moving platform, a Y-axis moving platform, a Z-axis moving platform and a workpiece swinging platform in linkage control ensure normal lines of a tool and a workpiece are kept at an identical angle to realize sub-aperture processing; the ventilation main shaft acts air pressure on the ball spline's end portion to form an axial thrust to let the tool axially float; a dynamic balance among hydrodynamic pressure, air pressure and dynamic pressure is performed on the polishing liquid by rotation of the flexible tool; a tiny gap between the tool and workpiece is formed by elastic deformation of the flexible tool due to the dynamic pressure; a shearing force for removing materials is generated when the polishing liquid flows through the gap; a cavitation effect in the gap is formed by ultrasonic waves.

A polishing device for optical elements includes: a tool shank (1), and a polishing disc base; wherein the tool shank (1) is connected to the polishing disc base and is mounted on a tool shaft of a numerical-controlled processing device; wherein a polishing film (3) is stuck on the polishing disc base; the polishing disc base is a profiling polishing disc base (7), a cylinder polishing disc base (2), a profiling polishing disc base (12) or a spherical polishing disc base (8); wherein the tool shank (1) is independent and universal, thereby reducing the processing cost of the polishing device. A polishing method for optical elements is based on the shapes mentioned above of the polishing disc base, including steps of: fixing a polishing disc connecting rod (11); sticking a polishing film (3); trimming the polishing film (3); and polishing an unprocessed work piece (6).

A polishing tool and a device for polishing a workpiece with a corresponding polishing tool are proposed, the polishing tool having an elastic intermediate layer with two portions/parts of different hardness, the portion/part close to the processing surface being softer than the portion/part of the intermediate layer remote from the processing surface.

Methods and apparatus for shaping workpieces are described in which data representing the surface form of the workpiece is analysed to determine characteristics of curvature of the surface, and these characteristics are used to determine the size and form required for a tool to apply shaping treatment to all parts of the workpiece surface. Measurements of the actual workpiece are then compared with data relating to the required workpiece form, to determine the amount and distribution of material to be removed from the workpiece. A tool path for moving the tool over the workpiece to achieve the required shaping operation is then determined, and the tool and tool path data are provided to a shaping machine to carry out the shaping operation. The shaping tool may comprise an elastomeric body covered in a flexible cloth on which rigid pellets containing abrasive material are fixed. The specification discloses methods of manufacturing such tools, and also discloses methods for conditioning the pelleted cloth. There is also described a method of determining permissible amounts of tool offset to ensure smooth cutting of the workpiece.

The invention relates to a polishing disc for a tool for fine processing optically active surfaces on spectacle lenses, having a main body which has a central axis and to which an intermediate layer that is softer than the main body and is made of a resilient material is secured, a polishing medium carrier resting on the intermediate layer. The intermediate layer has at least two regions with different degrees of hardness, said regions being arranged one behind the other in the direction of the central axis of the main body. The intermediate layer region adjoining the main part is softer than the intermediate layer region on which the polishing medium carrier rests.