Patent ID: 6523443
Filing Date: 2003-02-25
Classification: B23Q,B24B,Y10T

Abstract:
Apparatus for producing an ophthalmic lens or a mold for producing such a lens, and having, in both cases, an optical surface, said apparatus comprising a spindle which carries a workpiece support for holding a blank from which the lens or mold is to be produced, the spindle having a longitudinal axis and being mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis, a drive for rotating the spindle, a turning tool which is mounted for movement in a direction transverse of the axis of the spindle, and in a direction parallel to the axis of the spindle toward and away from the spindle, and a mover for causing movement of the tool during each spindle rotation so that the distance between the tool and a blank in the workpiece support changes as required in accordance with prescribed or online-calculated data of the optical surface, characterized in that the tool mover which is operable to cause the tool to move toward and away from a blank in the workpiece support comprises at least one linear motor, and in that the apparatus includes at least one static or dynamic counterbalance operable to balance the reaction force when there is relative movement of the tool toward a blank in the workpiece support.