Abstract: A holding device for holding an optical element to be ground is arranged such that pressure applied to a receiving face of the optical element on the holder base is made different in the radial direction in order to eliminate deformation, positional deviation or inclination of the optical element due to grinding resistances during grinding or due to high-pressure grinding. An elastic member is employed as an elastic member, or a receiving member capable of absorbing the positional deviation, the inclination, or the like of the optical element during grinding thereof is used.

Abstract: A polishing work holder for supporting a lens to be polished for use in a lens polishing machine is disclosed. The work holder comprises a holder body rotatably supported by a housing and having a recess portion formed on a rotating shaft of one end face thereof and a suction hole opened at the end face, a lens receptacle having a hole communicated with the suction hole to suck and hold a lens at one end surface, a spherical body intervened between the recess portion of the holder body and the lens holder so as to contact the another end face and for carrying the lens receptacle tiltably and movably in the crossing direction to the axis of the holder body, a fitting ring secured to the holder body concentrically and loosely fitted onto an outer periphery face of the lens or an outer periphery face of the lens receptacle so as to limit the tilting of the lens and the moving in the diametrical direction, and a sealing member provided between the holder body and the receptacle at outside of the suction hole.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the machining of optical elements is disclosed. The apparatus comprises the thus measured value of radius curvature with the measured value of radius curvature of previously polished lens, means for determining curvature correcting value by comparing the thus obtained curvature variation value with a previously set allowed value of radius curvature, means for determining correcting value of machining conditions during the swinging motion based on the thus determined curvature correcting value, and means for adjusting the machining conditions in accordance with the correcting value of machining conditions.

Abstract: A grinding apparatus with electrolytic in-process dressing suitable for grinding a planar or spherical surface. An electrode is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the work holder such that a gap of a predetermined size is left between the electrode and the grinding surface of the grinder. A power supply is connected to apply a voltage between the electrode serving as a cathode and the grinder serving as an anode. A weak-electric coolant is supplied to the space between the grinder and the electrode.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method of machining optical components such as lens is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an optical raw stock or material, a rotatable holding shaft for holding the optical raw stock, a machining tool having a machining surface thereof held by a rotatable machining shaft and arranged opposite to a surface to be machined of the optical raw stock, an electrically conductive tool as the machining tool, an electrode arranged at a certain distance from the machining surface of the conductive tool, an electrolytic power supply source for applying a positive voltage to the conductive tool and a negative voltage therefrom to the electrode, respectively, and a coolant supplying unit having a nozzle and for spraying weakly conductive coolant between the conductive tool and the electrode, thereby performing the machining of the optical raw stock or material.

Abstract: A method of grinding a lens and an apparatus therefor during dependent machining in which an electrically conductive grinding tool which rotates and a workpiece slide in close contact with each other on the work surface of the electrically conductive grinding tool. An anode is applied to the electrically conductive grinding tool, whereas a cathode is applied to an electrode which does not move together with the workpiece, while a fixed distance is maintained between the work surface of the electrically conductive grinding tool and the electrode. Grinding is thus performed with the aid of a weakly charged coolant fed between the electrically conductive grinding tool and the cathode.