The Use of Impulse Excitation in Glasses and Lenses

Author: Flowzy

Overview

Impulse excitation offers an innovative non-destructive testing technique for characterizing glasses and lenses. The method analyzes vibrational modes to assess mechanical properties, supporting quality control and development of advanced optical materials.

What is Impulse Excitation?

The technique involves applying a brief mechanical impulse to a sample and measuring its resonance frequency. This frequency acts as a fingerprint unique to each piece and is affected by manufacturing processes.

Why It Matters for Optical Materials

Optical components require exceptional consistency and precision. Impulse excitation testing:

• Predicts mechanical strength without sample damage
• Identifies inconsistencies visual inspections might miss
• Provides repeatable, reliable quality control data
• Enables 100% inspection rather than destructive sampling

Manufacturing Applications

Production defects in glasses and lenses may not be visually apparent but significantly impact performance:

• Uneven heating: Creates internal stress patterns
• Inconsistent coating: Affects optical and mechanical properties
• Microscopic cracks: Compromise structural integrity
• Material composition issues: Alter expected behavior

Impulse excitation detection occurs nearly instantly through non-destructive testing, allowing rapid identification of these issues.

Business Benefits

Implementation of impulse excitation testing in optical manufacturing has demonstrated significant results:

• Over 40% reduction in defective output rates
• Reduced customer returns
• Faster production throughput
• Lower total quality costs

Implementation

The GrindoSonic MK7 system enables integration into existing workflows with:

• Straightforward operator training
• Automated measurement capabilities
• Consistent, objective results
• Data logging for process improvement

Quality control shifts from subjective visual assessment to quantitative, physics-based evaluation.