Abstract: A method for machining particularly spectacle lenses by means of a machine which comprises at least one cutting unit and at least one turning unit in a common working space, wherein at least two spectacle lenses are machined at the same time in the working space, one of said spectacle lenses being cut while the other is turned. The machine frames of the cutting unit and of the turning unit are essentially decoupled from one another in terms of vibration and/or at least two machining units of the machine comprise workpiece spindle units for generating a transverse movement of the spectacle lens to be machined with respect to the respective tool, the workpiece spindle units being arranged essentially perpendicular to one another. As a result, it is possible for spectacle lenses to be machined in an extremely short time with high machining performance and with high surface precision and quality.

Abstract: A machine for machining optical workpieces, in particular plastic spectacle lenses, which has a workpiece spindle, which drives the workpiece in rotation about a workpiece rotation axis (B), and a fast tool arrangement, which moves a turning tool in a fast tool movement plane (X-F1), wherein the workpiece spindle and the fast tool arrangement can moreover be moved relative to one another in a plane (X-Y) which contains the workpiece rotation axis (B). The fast tool movement plane (X-F1) is positioned obliquely (work angle ?) with respect to the plane (X-Y) containing the workpiece rotation axis (B). As a result, a machine is provided in which the working point of the cutting edge of the turning tool can be aligned in a particularly simple and highly precise manner on the rotation axis (B) of the workpiece spindle.

Abstract: A machine for machining optical workpieces, is equipped with a workpiece spindle, by which the workpiece can be rotatably driven about a workpiece rotation axis, and with a first fast-tool assembly, by which a turning cutter is movable in the direction of the workpiece and away from it. The workpiece spindle and the first fast-tool assembly are also movable relative to each other in a direction transverse to the workpiece rotation axis. Provided adjacent to and preferably in parallel configuration with the first fast-tool assembly is a second fast-tool assembly with a graver which has its end that faces the workpiece being essentially punctiform. The graver is movable by the second fast-tool assembly, in the direction of the workpiece and away from it, so that a marking of any geometry can be produced on the latter in the same span.

Abstract: A grinding and polishing machine, in particular for lenses, has at least one tool spindle and at least one workpiece. The tool spindle is constructed to hold a respective tool on the same axis at both ends and is mounted in a spindle housing which can be pivoted about a pivot axis arranged at right angles to the tool spindle in order to provide in each case one tool for machining engagement and also at various defined angle positions with respect to the workpiece spindle. A drive arranged on the pivot axis pivotably moves the tool spindle about the pivot axis for the desired machining engagement and rotates the tool about the pivot axis into the various angle positions with respect to the workpiece.

Abstract: A method for auto-calibration of at least one tool (36) in a single point turning machine (10) used for manufacturing in particular ophthalmic lenses (L) is proposed, in which a test piece of special, predetermined geometry is cut with the tool and then probed to obtain probe data. The method subsequently uses the probe data to mathematically and deterministically identify the necessary tool/machine calibration corrections in two directions (X, Y) and three directions (X, Y, Z), respectively, of the machine. Finally these corrections can be applied numerically to all controllable and/or adjustable axes (B, F1, X, Y) of the machine in order to achieve a (global) tool/machine calibration applicable to all work pieces within the machines operating range. As a result two-dimensional (2D) tool/machine calibration and three-dimensional (3D) tool/machine calibration, respectively, can be performed in a reliable and economic manner.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for generating a surface (S) on a workpiece (W) is proposed, which comprises a workpiece chuck (17) having a longitudinal axis (L), a spindle (18) for rotating a fly cutting tool (20) having a tool tip (48), and a moving device for moving the spindle generally transverse to the axis (L). The spindle further has a rotary encoder (42) for detecting an angle of tool rotation (?), wherein the chuck is operatively connected with a fast workpiece servo (50) capable of moving it over short distances at high velocities. The servo is controllable taking into account the given angle of tool rotation so that the workpiece can be advanced toward and retracted from the tool in a defined manner while being cut by the tool tip. The limited geometry of the tool can thus be modified by moving the workpiece relative to the tool tip.

Abstract: An edge-machining device in particular plastic spectacle lenses (L) has two aligned holding shafts (14, 16) rotatable with a controlled angle of rotation (?B) about a rotational axis of a workpiece (B) between which the lens may be clamped and a tool spindle (12) rotationally drives a combination tool (10) about a rotational axis of a tool (C) running parallel to the rotational axis of the workpiece. The holding shafts and the tool spindle may be moved with position control towards each other in a first axial direction (X) and optionally parallel to each other in a second axial directions (Z) perpendicular to the first axial direction. The combination tool can be swivelled with a controlled angle of rotation (?C) about the rotational axis of the tool by means of the tool spindle so that a lathe tool (36) provided on the combination tool may be brought into a defined lathe machining engagement with the edge of the lens.

Abstract: A polishing disk for a tool for the fine machining of optically active surfaces on spectacle lenses in particular is disclosed, which comprises a support body, to which a foam layer is attached, wherein a polishing film bears against the foam layer. The polishing film is provided with at least one opening in a central region. During machining, the opening ensures pressure equalization and makes liquid polishing agent available from inside the foam layer, as a result of which better rinsing and cooling of otherwise disadvantaged regions of the polishing disk is achieved. As a result, a polishing disk of simple and cost-effective design is proposed, which is much more durable than the prior art while achieving high surface qualities.

Abstract: A lathe for machining optical workpieces, in particular spectacle lenses, comprises a fast tool arrangement and a workpiece spindle arrangement. A machine frame is cast monolithically from polymer concrete and on and in which all the functional surfaces, functional spaces and other cutouts are formed to their exact dimensions during the casting process. The machine frame upper part cast in one piece simultaneously covers the fast tool arrangement and the workpiece spindle arrangement and thus the machine bed in the manner of a covering hood. The machine frame is of compact dimensions, has a very rigid oscillation-damping machine bed and, in comparison with the rapidly moving elements of the fast tool arrangement, has a very large mass with a high center of gravity, which prevents the transmission of disruptive oscillations from the fast tool movement to the machine bed and thus to the workpiece spindle arrangement.

Abstract: A tool (10) is disclosed for fine machining of optically active surfaces (F), with a base body (12) that can be attached to a tool spindle of a machine tool, and an elastic membrane (14) that has a machining section (16) to which connects a gaiter section (18) by means of which the membrane is attached to the base body such that it can be rotated therewith. The base body and the membrane delimit a pressure medium chamber (20) which via a channel (22) can be optionally pressurized with a pressure medium in order to apply a machining pressure via the machining section during machining of the optically active surface. A guide element (24) guided longitudinally mobile on the base body is actively connected with the machining section so that the machining section can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the guide element and held in the transverse direction to the guide element, although under an elastic deformation of the gaiter section it is tilt-mobile in relation to the guide element.

Abstract: There is disclosed a block piece for holding an optical workpiece, in particular a spectacle lens, for machining thereof, which block piece comprises a basic body which has an end face, against which the workpiece can be blocked by means of a temporarily deformable material, and a clamping face via which the workpiece blocked on the basic body can be fixed on a spindle of a machining machine. According to the invention, the basic body is injection-molded from plastic and is provided on its end face with at least two cut-outs for receiving the temporarily deformable material, said cut-outs being arranged on either side of an imaginary plane which contains the central axis of the basic body, and the boundary face of said cut-outs which is closest to the central axis of the basic body in each case forms an undercut.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for substantially nullifying vibration and deflection in a single point lens turning lathe having a rapidly reciprocating lens cutting tool and shuttle assembly. The apparatus includes three or more tool shuttles of similar mass mounted for reciprocating movement along respective generally parallel shuttle paths. The shuttles are reciprocally moveable by respective actuators along their respective shuttle paths. The shuttle and tool assemblies are moved by their respective actuators in opposite directions at a rate which causes forces generated by shuttle and tool assemblies moving in one direction to cancel forces arising from the shuttle and tool assembly movement in the opposite direction. Should an odd number of shuttle and tool assemblies be used, the amount of force generated by the mass moving in one direction may be compensated by having a different rate of movement, and hence a different stroke length from the mass moving in the opposite direction.