Custom Sapphire Optical Lenses

Precision sapphire lenses for UV, visible and IR applications requiring mechanical durability and optical stability.

Microwork manufactures custom sapphire optical lenses and sapphire micro-optics for applications where optical transmission, mechanical durability, thermal stability and chemical resistance are required.

Sapphire, single-crystal Al2O3, can be used across UV, visible and IR wavelength ranges and is often considered for high-power, high-pressure, vacuum, corrosive or high-temperature environments where conventional optical glass may not provide sufficient durability.

Available configurations include plano-convex lenses, plano-concave lenses, meniscus lenses, spherical or bullet lenses, wedges, round and rectangular windows, and custom-shaped sapphire optical components.

Coating options may include anti-reflective coatings, partial reflector coatings and dielectric coatings from 193 nm to 5 µm, depending on wavelength, transmission, reflection and environmental requirements.

Sapphire Lens Capabilities

• Sapphire micro-optics, typically from 2–3 mm diameter

• Custom sapphire lenses from 3–30 mm diameter

• Plano-convex, plano-concave, meniscus, spherical and bullet lens designs

• Sapphire windows, wedges and custom-shaped optical components

• Custom UV, visible and IR coating options

Custom focal length options can be reviewed based on lens geometry, diameter, thickness and optical requirements.

Typical Specifications

Material: Optical-grade single-crystal sapphire
Diameter: 2 mm to 30 mm, custom sizes available
Thickness tolerance: Typically ±0.10 mm, depending on design
Surface quality: 60/40 or 40/20
Edge finish: Fine ground
Flatness: ≤5 fringes, depending on size and surface type
Clear aperture: Up to 90%, depending on design
Centration: Typically 3 arc min, depending on lens geometry
Coating: AR, partial reflector or dielectric coating options

Engineering Considerations

When designing a sapphire lens, engineers should consider wavelength range, surface quality, flatness, centration, edge condition, coating durability and mounting stress.

Compared with common optical glass, sapphire provides excellent hardness, chemical resistance and thermal stability, but it is more difficult to machine and polish to tight optical specifications. Lens geometry, diameter, thickness, coating requirements and surface quality all affect manufacturability, lead time and cost.

For early-stage projects, please provide the drawing, wavelength range, required transmission or reflection, surface quality, dimensional tolerance, coating requirement and operating environment.

Need a custom sapphire lens for a demanding optical environment?

Send us your drawing, wavelength range, surface quality, coating requirement and operating conditions. We can help review manufacturability and key technical risks before quotation.