Edmund Optics® (EO), the premier provider of optical and imaging components, announced today that it has opened a new Assembly and Advanced Design Facility in Tucson, Arizona, the second Edmund Optics location in the state. This almost 2.000 m² state-of-the-art facility will support advanced design efforts and high-volume manufacturing services, including cleanroom assembly and incoming inspection with numerous testing capabilities such as MTF, straylight, thermal cycle, shock, and vibration.
Customers will now have access to more sophisticated and state-of-the-art offerings at a location on the West Coast, in addition to other Edmund Optics facilities, domestically and internationally. “We are pleased to be able to now provide additional design and assembly services for our customer’s most demanding and complex applications within the region, but also globally”, says Greg Hollows, Vice President of Edmund Optics’ Imaging Business Unit.
In addition, new technology jobs will be created in Tucson. “This new facility will allow Edmund Optics to build a larger collaborative partnership with the institutions of the Tucson Optics Valley like the Arizona Optics Initiative (AOI) and Arizona Technology Council (AZTC)“ and show the company’s commitment to the region”, said Robert Edmund, CEO and Chairman of the Board.“ This facility has already hired six new engineers and plans to add additional technical talent over the course of this year.
Zinc selenide wedged windows
Edmund Optics has also expanded its product offering with Zinc Selenide (ZnSe) Wedged Windows, which are ideal for infrared (IR) applications, and TECHSPEC® Calcium Fluoride (CaF2) Aspheric Lenses, which have high transmission from ultraviolet (UV) to IR wavelengths.
Zinc Selenide (ZnSe) Wedged Windows are designed for use with high power CO2 laser systems. These windows are available in two wedge angle options: 30 arcmin or 3°, which help to eliminate etalon fringe effects as well as to prevent cavity feedback. With a broad wavelength range, excellent transmission in the IR, low absorption, and high resistance to thermal shock, Zinc Selenide (ZnSe) Wedged Windows are ideal for IR applications including thermal imaging, forward-looking infrared (FLIR), and medical imaging.
TECHSPEC® Calcium Fluoride (CaF2) Aspheric Lenses have high transmission from 200 nm (UV) to 7 μm (IR). The low refractive index of calcium fluoride reduces Fresnel reflection loss without the use of anti-reflection (AR) coatings. Low solubility and a hardness that is superior to other fluoride-based substrates enables these diamond-turned aspheres to be used in harsh environments. Two designs for these aspheres are available. The first features a design wavelength of 266 nm for use with Nd:YAG and excimer lasers, as well as for use in other UV applications. The second design features a 4 μm design wavelength for use in other spectroscopic, mid-wave IR (MWIR) thermal imaging, and other IR applications.
