Creating a Projection Lens

The following procedure shows how to create a Projection Lens.

Note: The Zernike Face type is in BETA mode for the current release.

To create a Projection Lens:

  1. From the Design tab, click Projection Lens .
    A preview of the Projection Lens and associated parameters appear in the 3D view.
  2. In the 3D view, click and select a point to define the Focal point of the lens.
  3. In the 3D view, click and select a line or axis to define the Optical axis of the lens.
    The optical axis is used to define the light direction after passing through the lens.
  4. Define the Back Focal Length (the distance between the focal point and the lens' back face) either by entering a value in mm or using the 3D view manipulators.
  5. From the Back face type/ Front face type drop-down list, select which shape the back face and front face of the lens should have:
    • Select Plan to create a plano-concave or convex lens.
    • Select Aspherical to create a lens with an aspheric back/front face.
    • Select Automatic to create a lens without spherical aberration that perfectly collimates/focuses rays after passing through the front face.
    • Select Zernike (beta) to create a lens with a Zernike back/front face.
    Note: The Back face and Front face cannot be set as Automatic at the same time. A Zernike face is only compatible with a Plan face. For more information on the compatibility between the face types, refer to Understanding Projection Lens Parameters.
  6. From the Thickness to set drop-down list, select on which parameter you want to base the thickness of the lens:
    Note: In case of a Zernike Face, the Thickness is set as Lens Thickness.
    • Select Edge thickness to define the size of the central part of the lens.
    • Select Lens thickness to define the size of the lens from the back to the front face of the lens.
  7. Enter a value to define the thickness of the lens.
  8. Define the shape of the lens:
    Note: If the Back face type or Front face type is set to Automatic or Zernike, the Construction mode not available.

    • To create a spherical lens, from the Construction mode drop-down list, select Revolution.

      The back and front face profiles revolve around the optical axis.

    • To create a toroidal lens:

      1. From the Construction mode drop-down list, select Revolution.
      2. Activate Custom revolution and click to select a custom origin and to select a revolution axis.
      3. Define the Start angle and End angle of the revolution in the range [-180° ; 180°].
    • To create a cylindrical lens:

      1. From the Construction mode drop-down list, select Extrusion.
      2. If needed, click and select a line to define an extrusion axis.
      3. Define the Extrusion start and Extrusion end points of the lens in mm.
    Once the general parameters of the lens are defined, define the characteristics of the Back Face and Front Face according to their selected type.