Method and apparatus for generating optic lenses

The method of grinding an ophthalmic surface on a lens blank with a toroidal grinding means comprising:

• mounting said toroidal grinding means for oscillation and rotation in a first common plane and oscillating and rotating same;
• mounting said lens blank for selective rotation on an axis of rotation parallel with said first common plane and for orthogonal coordinate displacement in three directions including said axis of rotation as one coordinate axis;
• superimposing base radius and cross radius parameters on said lens blank in a second plane orthogonal to said first plane and parallel to said axis of rotation;
• said cross radius parameter being generated in unison with the oscillation of said grinding means;
• said base radius parameter being generated in response to displacement of said lens blank on a second axis orthogonal to said axis of rotation and in said second plane;
• displacing said lens blank on said second axis no more than half the diameter of said lens blank while engaging said blank with said grinding means;
• and
• simultaneously rotating said lens blank during the last said displacement to provide a complete rough ground ophthalmic surface thereon.

The method of grinding an ophthalmic lens from a lens blank comprising:

• mounting and rotating a lens blank on a rotatable lens mounting pedestal;
• mounting said pedestal for movement in three orthogonal axes one of which is parallel to the axis of rotation of said mounting pedestal;
• rotating a grinding wheel on an axis parallel to a second of said orthogonal axis;
• and
• oscillating said grinding wheel in a plane parallel to the remaining one of said axes while engaged with said lens blank;
• and
• superimposing cross and base radius constraints on said lens blank along the axis of rotation of said blank while moving said blank pedestal along said second of said orthogonal axes.