Safety management in various fields is an interest of mine. The industrial field tends to have more accidents than most other types of job sites, so I’ve spent a lot of time learning about industrial accidents. How do they happen? Why do they happen? How do they affect employees, business owners, and clients? How do they impact the overall success of an industrial business? Some of the answers to these questions can be found in this blog. I started it to share the information that I’ve been collecting with people that are in my field of interest. If you work or own a business in the industrial field, knowing how to prevent accidents at work should be important to you. The information here can help you learn how to be more proactive in preventing them.
Preventing Accidents at Work
Lens Cleaning Steps For Aspheric Lenses
Henry Ellis
Aspheric lenses are unique in their structure. The specific curvature of the lens means that they need special care to keep debris and dirt off the lens surface. Any foreign matter on the surface of the lens can interfere with its ability to process and properly respond to light. If you're working with aspheric lenses for the very first time, you may not know how to keep them clean. Here are some tips to help you care for them without damaging that delicate surface.
General Cleaning Steps
When it comes to aspheric lens cleaning, it's not something you need to do on a schedule. In fact, you should only clean your aspheric lenses if they are visibly dusty. Hold your lens up directly in front of a bright light and look for any signs of dirt. If there's visible debris on the lens, it's time to clean it. You may find that it's best to look at it from multiple angles to be sure that you're not missing something on the surface somewhere.
If you do need to clean it, do it in a room that's relatively free of dust in the air. If there's an air conditioner, heater or other air ventilation, turn it off so you don't introduce any dust or contaminants from the vents. Wear latex gloves for protection, but make sure that they're powder-free, because the powder used to treat them could leave residue on the lens. Always wear gloves when you handle an aspheric lens, though – the oil in your skin could damage the coating on the lens otherwise.
Basic Compressed Air Application
One of the most valuable investments you'll make when it comes to cleaning aspheric lenses is in compressed air. It's great for keeping the lens surface clean, particularly if the particles are loose. With compressed air, you don't have to touch the surface of the lens, so you don't risk grinding anything into the glass or the coating.
Instead, you can just blow it away without any contact. In most cases, compressed air will be all you need. If it's not enough to get rid of everything on the lens, though, you may need to use a solvent to get it clean.
Careful Solvent Cleaning
If you have a lens that needs more elaborate cleaning, you'll have to use a solvent cleaner that's specifically designed for aspheric lenses. Usually, you'll need a reagent solvent, because traditional glass cleaners will leave streaks behind and may even damage the coating of the lens.
Invest in lint-free cloths for this type of cleaning, otherwise you may leave lint behind or potentially scratch the lens. Spray the cloth with the solvent so that it's moistened before you touch the lens with it. This ensures that the lens isn't damaged by rough fabric. Touch the moistened cloth to the outer edge of the lens and then work your way toward the center, wiping gently on the surface to clear away particles and debris.
If you have a stain that's particularly difficult to remove, you'll have to be a bit more aggressive about the removal. Start with a lint-free cloth, and fold it in half. Then, hold the cloth on the opposite edge from the fold. Dip the fold in cleaning solvent and wipe it straight across the lens surface.
It's important that you are attentive to the cleaning process when you have aspheric lenses, because improper handling may damage not only the surface coating that controls the reflection, but also the lens itself. With the tips presented here, you'll be better able to keep it clean so that it can reflect light off the lens correctly.
For more information check out the site of local vendors.
Share