Optical Manufacturing FAQ
Optical Manufacturing: What You Need to Know
Navigating the world of optical design and manufacturing can be complex — from material selection and prototyping to molding, coating, and final system assembly. That’s why we’ve compiled answers to the most common questions we hear from engineers, product managers, and innovators across industries. Whether you’re exploring the advantages of polymer optics, weighing tooling options, or planning for high-volume production, our FAQ provides clear, practical insights to help guide your decision-making with confidence.
You can find injection molding companies in your area by searching online directories like the Photonics Buyers’ Guide, the American Precision Optics Manufacturers Association, or the American Center for Optics Manufacturing. You’ll also find companies nearby by searching “injection molding companies near me.”
Working with an injection molding company near you may not be necessary. Capabilities are more important than proximity, especially with a complex process like injection molding. Apollo Optical Systems is located in Rochester, NY, but we work with custom optics projects from companies worldwide.
The injection molding company you choose for your optical system manufacturing plays a vital role in its success. You need a company that can support the entire process, from concept to manufacturing to post-processing.
Here are some things to look for:
- An experienced design team
- High-volume production capabilities
- Guidance with project specifications and applications
- A complete range of injection molding services, including part design, prototyping, and metrology
- Material selection
- Quality assurance
- Time- and cost investments
At Apollo Optical Systems, our injection molding technology ensures consistent, high-quality parts that meet or exceed industry standards. We’re with you every step of the way to ensure you have a product that delivers on your expectations.
In some optical applications, performance can be affected by small flaws like internal bubbles, surface irregularities, suspended particles, or flow lines in thin sections because they can affect how light passes through the material.
While some imperfections are unavoidable, they can be significantly reduced by choosing the right material for the process and project specifications and using a high-quality injection-molding process. This starts with design, but the molding technology itself can significantly impact the consistency and precision of the final product.
Molded plastic optics have many applications across many industries that require an optical component, including imaging, scanning, illumination, and medical use. Barcode scanners, LIDAR, and medical imaging and laboratory equipment are among the most common applications.
Injection-molded optical components are also found in the automotive industries for illumination, displays, cameras, and sensors. In the aerospace industry, injection-molded optical components are necessary for avionics, such as fiber-optic cables for in-flight communications, navigation systems, and weapons systems for land, sea, or air.
