Publications
These publications are written for engineers and designers who want to better understand molded optics. Co-authored or authored by employees of Hexagon Optics, they provide clear explanations and practical insights you can apply directly to your work in molded optics.
Books
Molded Optics – Design and Manufacture
⬢ Explains manufacturing methods, design guidelines, trade-offs, and best practices for creating cost-effective, producible designs.
⬢ Covers all classes of molded optics (plastic, glass, and infrared) rather than focusing on a single material.
⬢ Provides step-by-step detail on the design and manufacture of molded plastic, glass, and infrared optics
Field Guide to Molded Optics
⬢ Offers a concise overview of optical molding technologies, with a focus on injection-molded plastics and precision glass molding.
⬢ Covers the full spectrum of molded optics applications, from consumer electronics to automotive, medical, and defense systems.
⬢ Highlights the latest innovations in molding processes that are expanding the capabilities of optical systems.
Field Guide to Infrared Optical Materials
⬢ Covers the most common infrared crystals and glasses used in SWIR, MWIR, LWIR, and multispectral systems.
⬢ Reviews optical, crystallographic, mechanical, chemical, and thermal properties of popular infrared materials.
⬢ Includes process flows and material comparisons to guide selection and design decisions.
Articles & Papers
Paper/Presentation Coming Soon
“Progressive precision glass molding of chalcogenide optics”
By Alan Symmons, Benjamin Reeder & Holden Symmons
Abstract
Precision glass molding of chalcogenide lenses has become an enabling technology for high volume thermal imaging applications. Interest in chalcogenide glasses have increased significantly despite some shortcomings due to germanium supply chain issues.
Progressive or transfer precision glass molding enables the production of chalcogenide optics at high volumes that can support increased demand from markets like drones or automotive thermal imaging.
A review of the technology and the advantages of progressive precision glass molding for chalcogenide optics is reviewed.
Additional Information
⬢ Conference: Advanced Optics for Imaging Applications: UV through LWIR XI
⬢ Session Title: Materials, Fabrication, and Test I
⬢ Location: SPIE Defense and Security
⬢ Paper Number: 14034-2
⬢ Presentation Date: 29 April 2026
Published Papers
27 September 2016
24 June 2014
25 October 2013
24 October 2012
We’d be happy to answer any questions you may have about our publications