Part 3: Surfacing
Once we receive your order, the journey to a finished pair of glasses begins in our surfacing department. Here is where the prescription is cut into the lenses.
Step 1
Blocking
We start with a lens blank, attaching it to a fixture with a metal alloy. This allows our machines to hold the blank securely as it moves through the process.
Unlike the glass molds we make in another part of our lab, surfacing lens blanks doesn’t require diamond tools because these blanks are made from softer materials like polycarbonate or plastic.
Step 2
Cutting the Prescription
Before cutting, the glass needs to be mounted. We attach a small block to the back of the puck using wax or alloy.
From there, the glass goes into a generator:
- The generator holds the lens securely.
- A diamond bit spins and moves to cut precise curves into the glass.
- After this step, the glass looks frosted due to all the tooling marks.
Next sTeps
Coatings
After polishing, the back surface of the lens is softer and more vulnerable. To ensure durability, every lens goes through a hard-coating process where a clear lacquer is applied for long-lasting protection.