Patent ID: 6560994
Filing Date: 2003-05-13
Classification: C03B,Y02P

Abstract:
A method of manufacturing glass optical elements by press molding a glass molding material with a press molding apparatus comprising upper and lower molds, comprising:preparing the upper and lower molds; repeating a process of press molding the glass molding material with the upper and lower mold; and reproducing at least one of molding surfaces of the upper or lower mold, when the molding surface is impaired due to the repetition of the molding; wherein at least one of the upper and lower molds comprises a matrix having a portion consisting essentially of &bgr; silicon carbide having a density of at least 3.20 g/cm3 whereby a molding surface is formed on the portion, said molding surface having a surface roughness in terms of Rmax of 50 angstrom or less, and the reproducing comprises grinding or polishing the impaired molding surface.