System and method for automated casting of infrared glass optical components

A system for the automated casting of infrared glass lenses, comprising:

• a mold for casting infrared glass into lenses;
• a mold chamber operable to heat the mold to a temperature near a melting temperature of the infrared glass, the mold chamber being a first pressurized, heated enclosure having an interior;
• a casting chamber operable to fill the mold with molten infrared glass, the casting chamber being a second pressurized, heated enclosure having an interior;
• and
• wherein the mold chamber and casting chamber are coupled together, providing a path of fluid communication between the interior of the mold chamber and the interior of the casting chamber;
• and
• wherein said system further comprises:
• a pressure isolation valve operable to separate the interior of the mold chamber and the interior of the casting chamber;
• and wherein the pressure isolation valve couples the mold chamber and the casting chamber.

A method for the automated casting of infrared glass lenses, comprising:

• heating a mold in a mold chamber to a temperature near a melting temperature of infrared glass, the mold chamber being a first pressurized, heated enclosure having an interior;
• casting molten infrared glass into the mold in a casting chamber, the casting chamber being a second pressurized, heated enclosure having an interior;
• and
• cooling the mold to a temperature below the glass transition temperature of the infrared glass;
• and
• wherein the mold chamber and casting chamber are coupled together, providing a path of fluid communication between the interior of the mold chamber and the interior of the casting chamber;
• and
• wherein a pressure isolation valve couples the mold chamber and the casting chamber, and wherein the pressure isolation valve is operable to separate the interior of the mold chamber and the interior of the casting chamber.

A method for the automated casting of infrared glass lenses, comprising:

• heating a mold in mold chamber to a temperature near a melting temperature of infrared glass, the mold chamber being a first pressurized, heated enclosure having an interior;
• casting molten infrared glass into the mold in a casting chamber and controlling the amount of molten infrared glass dispensed into said mold based on a measured weight of molten infrared glass dispensed into said mold, the casting chamber being a second pressurized, heated enclosure having an interior;
• and
• cooling the mold to a temperature below the glass transition temperature of the infrared glass;
• wherein the mold chamber and casting chamber are coupled together, providing a path of fluid communication between the interior of the mold chamber and the interior of the casting chamber.