July 15, 2021 – Luxexcel, a technology provider for 3D printed commercial lenses, has recently announced the launch of its next-generation manufacturing platform, ‘Luxexcel VisionPlatform 7’, which makes it possible for businesses to integrate prescription lenses into the production of smart glasses in their manufacturing facilities.
The VisionPlatform 7 includes new features specifically geared towards manufacturing prescription smart lenses that are lightweight, thin, and can be used in commercial frames similar to traditional eyeglasses, according to the company.
Luxexcel states that its VisionPlatform 7 is technology-agnostic and integrates objects such as waveguides, holographic optical elements, and liquid crystal foils during the 3D printing process. The platform includes all hardware, proprietary materials, software, and processes required to create prescription smart eyewear on-demand. With the capabilities to manufacture prescription smart eyewear, technology companies will be able to accelerate their Augmented Reality (AR) eyewear projects and give designers more flexibility.
Fabio Esposito, Chief Executive Officer at Luxexcel said: “The launch of VisionPlatform 7 begins a new era in the manufacturing of prescription smart lenses. To compete in the race to launch consumer-ready smart glasses, eyewear manufacturers need to address prescription in their smart glasses devices. More than 75% of the adult world population today requires prescription lenses. Luxexcel provides a disruptive solution where smart technology is seamlessly combined with a prescription lens, rather than adding prescription power to the smart device as an afterthought. Luxexcel is accelerating the market introduction of true consumer smart glasses by allowing technology companies to manufacture prescription smart eyewear in the comfort of their own manufacturing home.”
The VisionPlatform 7 combines into a 3D printed prescription lens three vital elements of AR smart glasses – a prescription lens, a waveguide, and a projector – and also prints critical features that are difficult to manufacture, such as the air gap required for a waveguide, and printed hard coating, all without birefringence.
VisionPlatform 7’s features include:
- Technology agnostic and seamlessly integrates a variety of objects during the 3D printing process to create prescription smart eyewear. Integrated objects include smart technologies such as waveguides and holographic optical elements, as well as active or passive foils such as liquid crystals;
- Prints a range of powers from high to low on diameters from 65mm to below 1 mm. The platform also prints features difficult to produce with traditional lens making, such as air gaps required for waveguides, and micro lenses;
- Different adhesion promotors for various objects such as waveguides and holographic optical elements ensure that integrated objects bond well with the prescription material;
- Materials for high temperatures ensure that a range of anti-reflective and hydrophobic coatings can be applied to lenses as part of existing ophthalmic post-processing steps;
- A printable hardcoat is integrated as part of the 3D printing process. Luxexcel delivers an even surface at a low temperature to protect smart technologies inside the lens, the technology can even coat selected areas;
- Custom lens designs can be printed to address users’ most common refractive errors, such as single vision lenses and multifocal progressive designs, free form lenses as well as prisms;
- Finally, lenses produced by VisionPlatform 7 meet ISO, ANSI and FDA requirements for prescription eyewear, according to Luxexcel. VisionPlatform 7 prints a range of powers directly from the printer without the need for post processes like polishing.
For more information on Luxexcel and its VisionPlatform 7 for 3D printing prescription AR lenses, please visit the company’s website.
Image credit: Luxexcel
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Sam is the Founder and Managing Editor of Auganix. With a background in research and report writing, he has been covering XR industry news for the past seven years.