Process to edge and polish polycarbonate and CR 39 lenses with diamond wheels

Abstract

A process and apparatus for edging and polishing an ophthalmic lens is provided whereby an edge of a polycarbonate ophthalmic lens is polished to a high luster finish substantially equal to the finish on the optical surface of the lens. The process allows the use of one machine for processing of all common ophthalmic lens materials such as polycarbonate, CR 39 or glass, whereby the lens may be edged and polished with one machine. The process of the invention comprises the steps of roughing a polycarbonate lens substantially without coolant and passing a polishing wheel of the present invention over the surface of the lens substantially without coolant and then passing the polishing wheel over the surface of the lens with the use of coolant for at least one pass over the portion of the lens edge to be polished. A single abrasive wheel is used for machine polishing of the lens edge. The wheel is an impregnated wheel of from about 2 to about 60 micron diamond hardness abrasive particles in a concentration of from about 10 to about 200 concentration. The wheel may be used for conventional wet finishing of lens, blank materials other than polycarbonates.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.