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The system lens manual#

Replacing Skill with Technology (2) Adjusting Processing Conditions Based on Instinct and Technique The processing performance of the new grindstones even surpassed that of specialized grinding tool manufacturers. When this new system was first put into practical use, the product developers adopted glass materials that are easy to process using the new grindstones, thereby expanding the range of product application. During these processing experiments, Olympus also paid attention to the opinions of skilled workers, and finally perfected grindstones that could be applied to production after improving both processing performance and durability. This also greatly reduces the processing time by increasing grinding efficiency.ĭuring this grindstone development, Olympus tirelessly experimented with a large number of methods for compounding abrasives and bonding agents, crushing methods, and other methods in order to arrive at the optimal solutions. Such a grindstone enables a certain level of polishing plates to be constantly produced in dedicated machines without relying on the skill of the operator. Olympus then switched its focus from liquid abrasives to the development of a unique grindstone that is been hardened with bonding. The technician designs the polishing plate based on the lens being processed, and the accuracy of this task directly impacts the precision of the lens surface. This processing phase can take upwards of an hour in some cases. Polishing in particular requires a great deal of skill, and involves polishing the lens on a polishing plate while applying liquid abrasives. Lens processing occurs in three phases, "spherical grinding", "precision grinding" and "polishing". Replacing Skill with Technology (1) Using Liquid Abrasives and Fabricating Polishing Plates

2: Adjusting Processing Conditions Based on Instinct and Technique.

1: Using Liquid Abrasives and Fabricating Polishing Plates.

To facilitate automation, it was imperative to replace the following two skills that had previously depended on the ability of the technician with technology: This was when Olympus took on the challenge of automating lens processing with the goal of leading the industry. Although automated lens processing machines were available at the time, none of them satisfied Olympus' requirements for precision or lens shape. In the second half of the 1970s, however, there was a sudden spike in the demand for mass production, stable quality, and lower costs that made the automation of lens processing earnestly desirable. For a long time, lenses were still being processed based on the same ancient principles as during Newton's times, relying upon the knowledge and techniques of skilled workers. Optics is a core technology for Olympus, and the lenses that comprise optical systems are important parts that determine a product's performance. Considerations Regarding the Automation of Lens Processing The evolution of lens processing technology continues in this manner. These challenges continue, involving grindstone development and quantification of work that previously relied on instinct and technique. This development involves new challenges related to converting what was previously the sanctuary of highly skilled craftsmen into technology.

This is why Olympus worked to develop an innovative automatic lens processing system before any other company, thereby enabling the mass production of high-precision lenses.

The system lens manual#

The lens grinding process used to rely upon the manual labor of skilled workers.ĭue to the requirements of both the changing times and businesses, it became evident that simply relying on skill alone would not be sufficient to achieve QCD targets (Quality, Cost, and Delivery). The constant challenge of replacing skill with technology accelerates the evolution and differentiation of technology.