ARGOS – Surface Defect Inspection
For precision optics manufacturers and thin-film coating specialists, optical surface quality is critical for product performance. Manual-visual inspection faces many obstacles including subjective results and a shortage of qualified optical inspectors. Industry leaders in precision optics are moving towards automated defect inspection, which provides objective measurements and detailed documentation for quality control.
Industry leaders in precision optics are moving towards automated defect inspection, which provides objective measurements and detailed documentation for quality control.
From Curved Surfaces to Large Optics
ARGOS stands apart from other solutions with its ability to inspect a large variety of optical components, including curved surfaces and large measurement areas of up to 400 x 600 mm. ARGOS can inspect spherical, aspherical, or freeform lenses and polished surfaces. The flexible nature of ARGOS allows for adaptation to customer-specific requirements.
ARGOS for Production-Line Inspection or Manufacturing Process Control
ARGOS is a versatile inspection solution that can be used in-production for automated pass/fail decisions. This can even include multiple steps of the production process, such as before and after optical coating. ARGOS can also be used to inspect wafers before dicing. Alternatively, use ARGOS as a research and development tool for inspection of individual optics while optimizing your manufacturing process.
AI and Custom Applications of ARGOS
Customized software or hardware modifications can extend ARGOS capabilities to a wide range of applications, including the detection of coating voids and defects, waveguide inspection, and inspection of fiber end-faces in high-powered laser applications. AI models can be trained to detect defects on top of structures such as diffractive elements or embedded electronics.
Objective. Automated. Digital. ARGOS provides objective and automated defect assessment and ensures thorough digital documentation.
Benefits of ARGOS
Objectivity Improves Production Yield
ARGOS makes objective pass/fail decisions on individual precision optics components according to ISO 10110-7 or other size-based criteria. Measurement objectivity increases production yield compared to visual inspection by preventing over-inspection of optics.
Automation Saves Critical Resources
Automated surface quality inspection of your precision optics surface has lower operating costs compared to visual inspection. Furthermore, hands-off serial inspection provides optical technicians with availability for other time-critical tasks.
Digital Documentation Supports Quality Control
ARGOS provides statistical documentation of surface quality, providing traceable documentation for root-cause analysis and optimizing your manufacturing processes. Detailed inspection reports also provide support in external conversations regarding surface quality.
ARGOS Family of Inspection Solutions
The spectrum of optical components suitable for ARGOS inspection ranges from the smallest micro-optics for endoscopes to meter-sized mirrors for astronomy or EUV lithography. The diverse requirements that our surface inspection system must meet are reflected in the diverse range of systems that we offer. This is why we have developed the ARGOS family: modular and optimized for every application. With our ARGOS matrix 200 and 400 systems, we can adapt the modular system to your individual requirements.
More Products