Mechanical Design
Engineering Expertise from Schneider-Kreuznach
Engineering Expertise from Schneider-Kreuznach
At Schneider-Kreuznach, our mechanic design discipline provides the critical structural framework that ensures the performance, stability, and longevity of high-precision optical systems. Our engineering team specializes in developing robust mechanical solutions for demanding industrial environments, particularly for applications in machine vision, robotics, and metrology where alignment and durability are non-negotiable.
We go beyond theoretical design. Our approach is fundamentally linked to our extensive in-house manufacturing capabilities. This integration ensures that every component is not just designed for optimal performance, but also for efficient and repeatable production. We collaborate with our clients' technical teams to solve complex challenges in thermal management, vibration resistance, and system integration, delivering fully realized and reliable optomechanical assemblies.
Mechanic design for optical systems involves engineering the physical housing and components that maintain the precise position and alignment of lenses, filters, and sensors. Its primary function is to create a stable environment, protecting the optical path from external stressors such as shock, vibration, and thermal fluctuation. Designers use advanced CAD platforms and simulation tools to model and validate this mechanical framework.
A critical component of this process is Finite Element Analysis (FEA), a simulation method used to predict how a mechanical structure will behave under operational loads. By analyzing for stress, deformation, and thermal expansion, we can verify the integrity of a design before manufacturing begins.
This predictive analysis is essential for ensuring the long-term reliability required in industrial automation and inspection systems.
Our mechanic design philosophy is successful because our engineers have an intimate understanding of our in-house production processes. This synergy allows us to design what we can build and build what we design, with no disconnect between theory and reality.
Different mechanical components in a Schneider-Kreuznach C-Mount lens.
Our engineering expertise allows us to provide a flexible and scalable range of mechanical solutions, tailored to your project's specific technical, environmental, and commercial requirements. We understand that not every application can be served by a standard product, nor does every project require a ground-up development effort. Therefore, our services are structured to engage with you at the appropriate level, from minor modifications that optimize an existing product for your application, to the complete, collaborative design and manufacturing of a unique optomechanical system. This adaptable approach ensures you receive a solution that is both technically sound and economically viable.
Design validation is confirmed through empirical measurement. Our in-house metrology lab, equipped with tactile 3D CMMs (e.g., Zeiss UMM, Contura) and form testers (e.g., Mahr MMQ), provides direct feedback to our design team. We use this data to verify that manufactured components meet all dimensional and geometric tolerances specified in the design, closing the loop between digital models and physical parts.
Different industries have unique needs for optical systems. Schneider-Kreuznach creates custom solutions to match those requirements. We specialize in lens design and optical system design that cover many industrial uses.
Detailed tolerance analysis makes sure every component meets precise performance standards. We also use model-based simulations to fine-tune each design. This process helps us build solutions that fit specific challenges in diverse industries. Our commitment to innovation and customization strengthens our position as a leader in modern optical design.
Ever since the foundation in 1913 our staff have been perfecting our knowledge and technologies to bring you the best products in optics. Our manufacturing facilities in Bad Kreuznach, Germany, guarantee outstanding quality – Made in Germany. We continuously invest in our state-of-the-art machinery and in the education and training of our staff. Select your perfect lens from our large portfolio.
If you need a customized solution, we are your partner from the kick-off to the Project completion. Our extensive experience and in-depth knowledge of a wide range of applications enables us to provide you with solutions that are perfectly tailored to your needs. As a family owned company, we are passionate and committed to our customers and their success. You can expect long-term relationships based on trust and shared goals with us.
All Schneider-Kreuznach industrial lenses are designed for total flexibility and adaptability. Not only are they available in a range of standard designs, but they can also be completely customized to meet your needs. The possibilities are virtually unlimited. Whether you want to adjust working distances, require specific housing dimensions, or are looking for custom coatings for specific wavelengths, we can make it happen. We understand that every project is unique and we will do our best to provide you with the perfect solution.
Our focus on quality and innovation is evident in every industrial lens we modify. By working closely with our customers, we ensure that we can make your requirements a reality. Discover the possibilities of our custom industrial lenses and rely on our years of experience and expertise in the optical industry. Here are just a few examples of the modifications that can be made to our industrial lenses:
Contact us, to find the right solution for you.
Any Schneider-Kreuznach standard lens can be modified to meet your needs. However, there are some applications that require new, customized lenses. Our product development department can develop custom lenses for your needs. This can even result in cost savings by tailoring the lens to your needs, thus avoiding unnecessary complexity.
Our custom lenses offer user-friendly integration into existing systems. The adaptability of our product designs allows engineers to seamlessly integrate lenses. We are a trusted partner because of our commitment to research and development and our decades of experience in the optical industry. With our custom lenses, we help our customers overcome challenges, open up new possibilities and take their technical applications to the next level.
Quality and reliability are top priorities at Schneider-Kreuznach. Our lenses undergo rigorous quality control to ensure maximum reliability. Before a lens leaves our factory, it is carefully inspected and tested. This ensures that it meets our high quality standards. We use only high quality glass from reputable manufacturers to achieve very low manufacturing tolerances. As a result, our filters are of consistently high quality. Their use allows you to accurately reproduce results, as the lenses will perform nearly identically even after years of use.
Our industrial lenses are rigorously tested to DIN and ISO standards to ensure they meet stringent environmental requirements. These include extreme temperature testing from -25°C to +70°C, humidity testing from 80% to 95% relative humidity, and shock testing at 50 g / 11 ms and sinusoidal vibration testing to ensure robustness, shock and vibration resistance. Of course, we can also design and manufacture lenses to meet even more demanding requirements. Contact us for more information.
Our industrial lenses are tough and durable by design. But we offer even more: Ruggedized and stabilized lenses. These lenses are exceptional. They offer superior performance and durability. Even in the harshest conditions, you can count on our lenses to deliver reliable, accurate results.
Stabilized Lenses
Stabilized lenses are specifically designed for precise measurement applications such as 3D measurement and complex triangulation systems to avoid image shift. With their secure mechanical design, these lenses ensure a stable image position and minimize image shift during movement. They provide highly accurate and reliable results without having to constantly re-calibrate. Stabilized lenses are ideal for robotic applications, especially robot vision.
Ruggedized Lenses
Our ruggedized lenses are ideal for harsh environments. Ruggedized C-mount lenses resist shock and vibration. With shock resistance up to 100g and robust mechanics and optics, they offer exceptional durability in extreme conditions such as rocket launches into space.
We are proud of our technical expertise, which we consistently apply to the production of our lenses and optical filters through our high level of vertical integration at our Bad Kreuznach site. Each of the Schneider-Kreuznach products is manufactured with the utmost care and precision to provide you with the best possible performance and reliability.
Optics
We demand the highest standards of materials and manufacturing processes to ensure excellent image quality, starting with the production of the optics. Our standards go beyond the production of individual components. We master the entire production process from raw glass to finished lenses and are able to process all common types of glass. Our special coating technologies give the optics or lenses the desired optical properties.
Mechanics
We do mechanical manufacturing in-house. We use the latest technologies and machinery to develop robust and durable filters. With our high-end 5-axis CNC milling machines, we have world-class machining capabilities that give us exceptional precision and flexibility. These powerful milling machines allow us to realize complex geometries and sophisticated contours in the mechanical components of our lens houses while maintaining high reproducibility. Electroplating is performed in-house under strict environmental conditions, allowing us to customize the surface coatings of our products to meet the specific requirements of our customers.
Assembly
Our lenses are assembled in dedicated clean rooms that provide a clean and controlled environment and ensure they are free of contaminants. Our qualified staff with many years of experience and expertise perform precise adjustments and calibrate the optics to the highest quality with the lowest tolerances.
Testing and Quality Assurance
Our test technology and quality assurance reflect our high quality standards. We use state-of-the-art technologies such as interferometers and 3D coordinate measurement technology to test the lenses we manufacture to ensure they meet the highest standards. Our ISO 9001 certified processes, metrology rooms and procedures ensure consistent and reliable production to meet our customers' high expectations.
Our sales and engineering professionals provide customers with a high level of expertise and responsiveness. We understand that the needs of our industrial customers can be diverse and complex. Whether it's technical specifications, the exact application environment, special customizations, or other unique requirements, we take the time to understand each customer's unique needs and provide customized solutions. Our advice ranges from selecting the right lens to assisting with integration into existing systems. You can count on our experts to provide the best support and find the perfect solution.
Our in-depth application knowledge and proven optical expertise enable us to provide customized solutions that combine mechanical robustness, reliability and the highest imaging accuracy. This is the result of our decades of experience with extremely tight tolerances. We even go so far as to design and build our own manufacturing and metrology systems if there is no equipment available on the market that is accurate enough. Our customers value us not only for our technical expertise, but also for the dedicated and customer-focused advice we provide. We listen. We answer questions and make recommendations. It is important to us that our customers have all the information they need so that they can make the right decisions and achieve the best possible results.
Contact us - we will be happy to advise you.
Discover our wide range of high quality lenses, optical filters and accessories in our interactive eBrochure. Find the detailed compilation of all standard products currently available from Schneider-Kreuznach. Our product brochure gives you a comprehensive overview of our entire product range, including all technical information. Whether you are looking for specific products or want to compare different options, our eBrochure has it all in one place. Click on the link below to download our product brochure.
Contact us to learn more about our mechanic design and engineering capabilities. Whether you require a modification to an existing product or a fully custom optomechanical solution, our team is equipped to provide the technical expertise necessary to ensure your project's success.
Do you have any questions or comments? Then please contact us. We will get back to you as soon as possible. To help us process your request, please fill out all fields marked with *.
Headquarters - Europe
Jos. Schneider Optische Werke GmbH
Ringstraße 132
55543 Bad Kreuznach | Germany
+49 (0) 671 601 0
Business Units
Business Unit Industry
+49 (0) 671 601 205
isales@schneiderkreuznach.com
Business Unit Photo/ Cine
+49 (0) 671 601 551
B+W belongs to the Photo division
photo@schneiderkreuznach.com
cine@schneiderkreuznach.com
Offices Worldwide
America
+1 800 645 7239 (East Coast)
+1 800 228 1254 (West Coast)
Asia
+86 755 8832 1170
Singapore
+65 9488 0062
Visit us at any tradeshow or event we attend worldwide!
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