Custom plano convex lenses

Plano Convex Lenses for Focusing and Collimation

Kingsview Optical is a plano convex lens manufacturer for OEMs, instrument makers and research labs. We make custom plano convex lenses from 0.8mm to 100mm on our Optotech CNC lines in Rye, then coat and measure them on the same site.

  • Made in Rye, East Sussex
  • CNC polished in Rye
  • Coated in-house
  • ISO 9001:2015
Send Your Lens Drawing See the Specification
Batch of precision polished lenses made by Kingsview Optical
A batch of polished lenses before coating.
Lenses made here, start to finish. CNC polished, centred, coated and measured at our site in Rye.
See how we make them →
The basics

What a Plano Convex Lens Does

In short: a plano convex lens has one flat surface and one convex surface, giving a positive focal length. It is the best simple lens for focusing a collimated beam to a point, or for collimating light from a point source.

Plano convex lenses work best at infinite conjugate: one side of the lens sees collimated light. For the lowest spherical aberration, face the curved surface towards the collimated beam, and the flat surface towards the focus.

If the object and image are at similar distances, a biconvex lens usually performs better. If you need a tighter focus than a single plano convex lens can give, adding a meniscus lens or moving to an achromatic doublet reduces aberration.

For a custom lens, the main choices are diameter, focal length (set by the radius and glass), centre thickness and coating. Long focal lengths mean shallow radii, which polish efficiently; short focal lengths mean steep radii, which our CNC lines handle well.

Plano convex lens: one flat surface, one convex surface.
Ray trace of a plano convex lens focusing a collimated beam
Ray trace of a plano convex lens, from our optical design software.
Applications

Where Our Plano Convex Lenses Are Used

Laser focusingFocusing collimated laser beams onto a target or into a fibre.
CollimationCollimating light from LEDs, fibres and other point sources.
CondensersIllumination optics in projectors and instruments.
Beam expandersThe positive element in Keplerian and Galilean beam expanders.
SpectroscopyCoupling light into and out of spectrometers.
Machine visionSimple imaging and illumination optics.
Specification

Plano Convex Lens Specification

These are our standard tolerances. If your design needs tighter, tell us which parameter. We'll tell you honestly whether we can hold it, and what it adds to cost.

Diameter range0.8mm to 100mm
Diameter tolerance+0 / −0.05mm
Centre thickness tolerance±0.05mm
Radius tolerance0.5% of radius or better
Irregularityλ/4
Centration (wedge)±2 arcmin
Surface quality (scratch-dig)60/40
Flatness (plano surface)λ/4 @ 633nm
MaterialsSchott, Ohara and CDGM optical glass; fused silica
CoatingsBroadband AR (standard 425 to 650nm, wider on request), V-coat, single-layer MgF2, custom designs
Edge finishingBlackened edges, steps, bevels, flats, controlled apertures

Not sure what to specify? For focusing and collimation, centration (wedge) and surface irregularity usually matter most. Send the design and we'll help you check.

Options

Made to Fit Your System

CoatingsBroadband AR, V-coats and MgF2, applied in our own chambers
Edge featuresSteps, bevels, flats and blackened edges, CNC edged to suit your cell
Cells and housingsLens cells and barrels from our own machine shop AssemblyLenses fitted into cells and complete assemblies
Questions

Plano Convex Lens Questions

Which way round should a plano convex lens face?
For focusing a collimated beam, or collimating a point source, face the curved surface towards the collimated side. That splits the bending between the two surfaces and minimises spherical aberration.
I need a large-diameter, long focal length plano convex lens for a collimated beam. What limits availability and lead time?
Our lenses run up to 100mm in diameter. Long focal lengths mean shallow radii, which polish efficiently, but a large, thin lens needs enough centre thickness to stay flat and stable, so we'll advise on the minimum. Lead time is mostly driven by glass availability, any tooling, coating and quantity. Tell us the diameter, focal length and wavelength and we'll confirm what's practical.
Do I need an AR coating on a plano convex lens if I'm only using one element?
An uncoated N-BK7 surface reflects about 4% of the light, so a single lens loses about 8% and can create ghost reflections. For laser systems, low-light imaging or anywhere stray light matters, an AR coating is worth it. For simple illumination, uncoated is often fine. We coat broadband AR, V-coats and MgF2 in-house.
What tolerances should I specify for a precision optical system?
Centration (wedge), surface irregularity, centre thickness and surface quality are the usual ones. Our standard tolerances are in the table above. Tolerances tighter than your system needs add cost, so send your tolerance analysis if you have one and we'll tell you where it drives price.
Where can I order a plano convex lens with a specific diameter and focal length, and what changes the price most?
Send us the diameter, focal length, wavelength, coating and quantity. Price is driven mainly by diameter, how steep the radius is, the glass, the tolerances and the quantity. Coating and inspection data add to it.

Other Lenses We Manufacture

Plano-convex Plano-concave Biconvex Biconcave Meniscus Achromatic doublets Achromatic triplets

Or see our full precision optical lens manufacturing capability, and our optical design service if you need a lens designed.

Getting a Quote for Plano Convex Lenses

Send us your drawing or lens design data. An engineer from the team that would make your lenses, not a sales team, will review it. They'll tell you plainly what's achievable and what will drive cost.

What to send

  • Diameter and focal length, or a drawing (PDF or ISO 10110)
  • Glass type and wavelength
  • Centration and surface tolerances
  • Coating requirement
  • Quantities: prototypes and expected production volumes

What happens next

  1. An engineer reviews itWithin one working day, flagging anything that will drive cost or lead time.
  2. We quote the lensFor the prototype, and for production at your volumes.
  3. We make, measure and deliverAll in Rye, with inspection data if you need it.
Start Your RFQ

Need a Custom Plano Convex Lens?

Send your drawing or lens design data. We'll tell you honestly how we'd make it, what it will cost and how long it will take.

Send Your Lens Drawing Call 01797 226202
Made in Rye, East Sussex. NDA-friendly. Defence and security work welcome. ISO 9001:2015.