The disclosure relates to a method for producing an optical element (202), wherein a blank of transparent material is heated and/or provided and, after heating and/or after being provided is press molded, for example on both sides, between a first mold (UF) and at least one second mold (OF), to form the optical element (202) and is then sprayed with a surface treatment agent.

According to one example, a molding apparatus may be utilized to mold one or more glass elements by heating of one or more glass materials and pressing the one or more glass materials between an upper mold and a lower mold. The molding apparatus includes a radiant heating module comprising a plurality of radiant heating elements, an upper resistive heating module comprising a first plurality of independently controlled resistive heating elements, and a lower resistive heating module comprising a second plurality of independently controlled resistive heating elements.

A mold stack for forming 3D glass-based articles includes a plenum and a cooling structure integrated with the plenum. The mold stack includes a mold with a flange that can be used to mount the mold on the plenum. The mold stack includes features to reduce mold warp without significantly increasing thermal mass.

Systems and methods for texturing substrates (e.g., glass, metal, and the like) and the textured substrates produced using such systems and methods are disclosed. An exemplary textured substrate includes a surface having a portion with a root-mean-square roughness between 40 to 1000 microns and an autocorrelation function greater than 0.5 for distances less than 50 microns. An exemplary system for texturing a substrate includes a plunger with a textured surface, where a portion of the textured surface has a root-mean-square roughness between 40 to 1000 microns and an autocorrelation function greater than 0.5 for distances less than 50 microns. An exemplary method for texturing a substrate includes the steps of generating a pattern defining a texture, and 3-D printing the pattern on the substrate to form the texture.

An optical lens molding device includes a raw material supplying unit for providing a solid-state optical material, a feeding unit for transporting the solid-state optical material along a feeding direction, a heating unit including a heating body and a heating conduit in spatial communication with the supplying unit for entering of the solid-state optical material, and a molding unit. The heating conduit has a downstream part extending in the heating body to heat and melt the solid-state optical material in the heating conduit into a fluid-state optical material. The molding unit defines a cavity and a sprue in communication between the cavity and the downstream part to permit the molten fluid-state optical material to be pressed by the solid-state optical material and to flow in and fill the cavity through the sprue.

An injection molding method includes the steps of:(A) preparing a molding unit and an injection unit, the molding unit including a first mold having a protruding portion, and a second mold having a movable post cooperating with an inner peripheral surface thereof to define a cavity; (B) moving the molds toward each other until the protruding portion cooperates with the second mold to define a forming space; (C) activating the injection unit for injecting the molten optical material into the forming space; (D) cooling the molding unit; and (E) moving the molds away from each other and subsequently activating the movable post to push a solidified optical material out of the forming space.

A molding apparatus for forming a glass article comprises a mold shell comprising a cooling surface comprising at least a first zone and a second zone; an adjustable nozzle system comprising a mold-facing surface having a plurality of apertures sized to receive a nozzle or a plug; a plurality of nozzles, each coupled to one of the apertures to direct a stream of fluid onto the cooling surface; and a fluid supply providing a fluid through the plurality of nozzles. The fluid is jetted through the nozzles to impinge against the first zone or the second zone of the cooling surface, and a number of nozzles through which the fluid is jetted to impinge against the first zone of the cooling surface is different than a number of nozzles through which the fluid is jetted to impinge against the second zone of the cooling surface.

Systems and methods for texturing substrates (e.g., glass, metal, and the like) and the textured substrates produced using such systems and methods are disclosed. An exemplary textured substrate includes a surface having a portion with a root-mean-square roughness between 40 to 1000 microns and an autocorrelation function greater than 0.5 for distances less than 50 microns. An exemplary system for texturing a substrate includes a plunger with a textured surface, where a portion of the textured surface has a root-mean-square roughness between 40 to 1000 microns and an autocorrelation function greater than 0.5 for distances less than 50 microns. An exemplary method for texturing a substrate includes the steps of generating a pattern defining a texture, and 3-D printing the pattern on the substrate to form the texture.

Systems and methods for texturing substrates (e.g., glass, metal, and the like) and the textured substrates produced using such systems and methods are disclosed. An exemplary textured substrate includes a surface having a portion with a root-mean-square roughness between 40 to 1000 microns and an autocorrelation function greater than 0.5 for distances less than 50 microns. An exemplary system for texturing a substrate includes a plunger with a textured surface, where a portion of the textured surface has a root-mean-square roughness between 40 to 1000 microns and an autocorrelation function greater than 0.5 for distances less than 50 microns. An exemplary method for texturing a substrate includes the steps of generating a pattern defining a texture, and 3-D printing the pattern on the substrate to form the texture.

A micro- and nano-hot embossing method for an optical glass lens array, including: preparing a mold with a micro-hole array by micro EDM, where the micro-hole array matches an optical glass lens array and the mold is made of a hard metal material which is conductive and meets strength and temperature requirements; preparing a nano nitride-based graded composite coating on a surface of the mold by magnetron sputtering; and pre-fabricating a glass preform and then placing the glass preform on the surface of the mold; heating the glass preform and hot embossing by a glass molding machine in vacuum; cooling in nitrogen atmosphere; and demolding to produce the optical glass lens array. The micro- and nano-hot embossing method of the present invention improves the surface quality of the optical glass lens array and reduces the cost and difficulty for manufacturing.