Abstract: Programmable electric and hydraulic machine for shaping laps such as are used to form or polish opthalmic lenses, comprises vertically oscillatable, longitudinally displaceable arm carrying a point cutter which is functionally engageable by radially extensible, rotating lap carried by upstanding spindle. Alternately, spindle is operable by oscillating drive when lap is radially retracted. Toroidal or spherical laps having a large range of variance in two dimensions, i.e. curvatures, are thus obtained by using relevant cutter and lap locations, as well as appropriate drive settings. Concave laps are produced by exchanging locations of lap and cutter so workpiece is carried by vertical-moving arm.

Abstract: A programmable machine for automatically cutting and/or resurfacing a selected arcuate pattern upon either a convex or concave lap, particularly such laps as may then be used for forming and polishing opthalmic lenses. A lap positioning unit and a cutter positioning unit are located respectively on adjacent upright and horizontal supports so as to bring the lap and cutter into mutual engagement, each unit initially being longitudinally adjustable from a respective pivot point by a selected amount so as to determine the particular arcuate curvature obtained, which curvatures jointly form the two-dimentional arcuate pattern chosen for the lap face. In operation, the lap is oscillated vertically and a rotary milling cutter is driven back and forth transverse thereto.

Abstract: A chuck assembly particlarly useful to position a lap or lens blank at the end of an oscillatory spindle for opthalmic lens grinding; comprises an opposing pair of jaws, one of which is fixed and the other a loosely hanging plate, laterally and longitudinally tiltable between engage and disengage positions by selective action of a fluid-operated piston having a conic contact head which distally abuts the jaw plate for leveraged closing fulcrumed against a workpiece-adjacent edge, in opposition to resilient means biased to hold the jaw open.