How can the quality of tinted spectacle lenses be checked reliably, reproducibly and with ease? Together with Ophthalmica Brillengläser, ColorLite has developed the ColorCube oph100 – a benchtop spectrophotometer designed specifically for colour and transmittance measurement in the optical industry.
The measuring system records the spectral transmittance of spectacle lenses across the range from 380 to 700 nm and makes the spectral curve immediately available for evaluation and documentation. This makes the ColorCube oph100 particularly suitable for the quality control of tinted plastic lenses, coloured and filter lenses, as well as medical edge and contrast filters.
The development was prompted by a specific practical requirement: no suitable successor instrument was available for a measuring system previously used in the optical industry. In the colour studio, spectacle lenses are individually tinted by hand. It is therefore essential to be able to check the result quickly and make immediate adjustments if necessary. This requires a measuring system that is easy to operate, delivers highly repeatable results and makes the relevant colour and transmittance values immediately visible.
This requirement led to the collaboration between Ophthalmica and ColorLite. Ophthalmica Brillengläser, based in Rathenow, brings many years of experience in the manufacture, finishing and tinting of spectacle lenses, including specialist expertise in medical edge and contrast filters. ColorLite contributed its expertise in spectral colour and transmittance measurement.
The key advantage of this collaboration was the ability to align the measurement technology directly with the actual workflows and requirements of spectacle lens production. Operation, lens positioning, the measurement process, result display and documentation could therefore be assessed and adapted not only from a technical perspective, but also from the user’s point of view.
On this basis, the existing ColorCube was specifically developed further to meet the requirements of optical laboratories, colour studios and spectacle lens manufacturers.
The result is the ColorCube oph100 for colour and transmittance measurement of spectacle lenses.
What does the ColorCube oph100 measure?
The ColorCube oph100 uses the principle of spectral transmittance measurement. The spectacle lens is positioned in the optical path between the light source and the spectrometer. The system measures which portions of the light pass through the lens at each wavelength.
The measurement range extends from 380 to 700 nm, with spectral sampling in 3.5 nm increments. The measurement geometry is d/0°, with diffuse illumination and a 0° viewing angle in accordance with DIN 5033.
Figure 1: Schematic illustration of the ColorCube oph100 measurement principle with light source, integrating sphere, spectacle lens and spectrometer.
Particularly for tinted spectacle lenses, edge filters and contrast filters, the transmittance spectrum provides important information about how the lens transmits light across the different wavelength ranges.
Position the lens, press the button, get the result
Easy operation of the ColorCube oph100: position the spectacle lens, start the measurement at the press of a button, and receive the result immediately.
The ColorCube oph100 is designed for everyday use in the colour studio. Measurements can be carried out in just a few simple steps, with results available after approximately 0.5 seconds.
The measurement process is deliberately kept simple:
- Place the spectacle lens on the measuring aperture.
- Start the measurement at the press of a button.
- Evaluate the colour and transmittance values immediately.
The robust measuring system enables highly repeatable measurements even during regular use. Coloured backlighting also supports rapid visual PASS/FAIL assessment. This provides the user with immediate feedback, allowing them to continue working or make adjustments straight away if required.
From measurement result to a clear measurement report
Quality assurance requires not only fast measurement, but also clear and traceable documentation.
In combination with ColorDaTra Professional, measurement data can be recorded, compared with reference values and analysed. Freely definable tolerances enable PASS/FAIL assessment.
The results are presented in a clear measurement report. The relevant colour and transmittance values, together with the spectral curve, can be reviewed at a glance. This provides the user not only with a fast measurement result, but also with a clear basis for evaluation and documentation.
The measurement data can be stored and retrieved again at a later stage. In this way, an individual measurement becomes part of a traceable quality assurance process – from rapid checking in the colour studio through to the documented assessment of the spectacle lens.
Figure 2: ColorDaTra Professional software displaying measurement values and the transmittance curve of a spectacle lens for quality control.
Standards-related quality testing of spectacle lenses
The ColorCube oph100 supports the measurement of spectral and luminous transmittance in accordance with the relevant requirements of DIN EN ISO 12312-1 for signal recognition and suitability for road use.
This enables optical laboratories and spectacle lens manufacturers to record, display and document the measured values reproducibly and use them for standards-related quality testing.
Developed with practical experience – for practical use
In the Ophthalmica colour studio, plastic spectacle lenses are individually tinted and finished – from subtle tints to therapeutic colour filters.
The ColorCube oph100 demonstrates how new measurement technology can be developed: not without the user, but together with them.
Ophthalmica’s experience in spectacle lens manufacturing, finishing and tinting was combined with ColorLite’s expertise in measurement technology. This combination of practical application and measurement expertise made it possible to tailor the system specifically to the actual requirements of laboratory and production environments.
Would you like to integrate colour and transmittance measurements of spectacle lenses into your quality assurance process? Talk to our ColorLite Sales Team about your measurement task.
- Tel.: 05552 999 580
- E-Mail: Sales@ColorLite.de
Further information about the ColorCube oph100 can be found here:
Technisches Datenblatt ColorCube oph100
Frequently asked questions about the ColorCube oph100
What does the ColorCube oph100 measure?
The ColorCube oph100 is designed for colour and spectral transmittance measurement of spectacle lenses. It measures the spectral range from 380 to 700 nm and displays, among other things, the transmittance spectrum.
Which spectacle lenses is the measuring system suitable for?
The system was developed for the quality assurance of tinted plastic lenses. These include, for example, coloured and filter lenses as well as medical edge filters and contrast filters.
What is an edge filter?
Edge filters are specially tinted spectacle lenses that selectively reduce or block certain wavelength ranges of the incident light. Other parts of the spectrum are transmitted.
For quality control, it is therefore essential to measure the spectral transmittance of an edge filter reproducibly. The ColorCube oph100 measures this transmittance curve and makes it available for evaluation and documentation.
How is a measurement carried out?
The spectacle lens is placed on the measuring aperture and the measurement is started at the press of a button. The measurement takes approximately 0.5 seconds. A visual PASS/FAIL display supports rapid assessment.
Can the measurement results be documented?
Yes. ColorDaTra Professional provides database, analysis and reporting functions. Measurement values can be compared with references, analysed and stored. A clear measurement report presents the relevant colour and transmittance values as well as the spectral curve so that the results can be reviewed at a glance and documented in a traceable manner.
Does the ColorCube oph100 support measurements in accordance with DIN EN ISO 12312-1?
The ColorCube oph100 supports the measurement of spectral and luminous transmittance in accordance with the relevant requirements of DIN EN ISO 12312-1 for signal recognition and suitability for road use.
