Optical attenuator molding system

A system for molding an optical attenuator that includes a lens portion and a supporting portion unitary with the lens portion, the system comprising:

• an injection molding machine including a mold having:
• a cavity element and a core element which together define a space in which said supporting portion can be molded, a portion of the cavity element defining one surface of said lens portion, the cavity element and core element being separable from each other by an actuating motor of the molding machine subsequent to each injection cycle to permit removal of each optical attenuator molded between the cavity element and the core element, and
• a core pin, movably located in the core element and having a proximal end defining a second surface of the lens portion, and a core pin motor coupled to the core pin for moving the core pin relative to the core element to adjust a thickness of the lens portion,
• an extractor situated adjacent to the mold for extracting each optical attenuator from the mold, the extractor including an optical measuring device for measuring the thickness of the lens portion, the optical measuring device including an output for a signal indicative of the thickness of the lens portion, and
• a controller having an input coupled to the output of the optical measuring device, a first output coupled to the core pin motor, and a second output coupled to the actuating motor of the molding machine, the first output providing a first signal specifying any movement of the core pin motor necessary to achieve a desired thickness of the lens portion, and the second output providing a second signal for initiating an injection cycle by the injection molding machine.