fastgrind system

[mauroventura]

Hello boys!
Just today , i have received from email another brochure concerning the fastgrind system .I dont'know anything about this way to build lenses .
I am very courious to know if there is someone in optiboard country that can give me some infos.
I know that you must buy from tha same machine company semifinished already blocked, so you are able to handle a restricted variety of kind of lenses.is it true??
This way of lens building seems to give less space to some kinds of customization such as decentration , desired edge or center thickness and so on.

thank you in advance to any kind of answer .:)

Mauro Ventura

[HarryChiling]

It is an interesting idea, the fast grind allows an office to skip the blocker and generator part of surfaceng, which can be a transition step to full surfaceing.

I had thought of using an old finer and using more abrasive glass pads on tools to fine down a lens to the desired thickness, and then fining and polishing the traditional way. This could be a spin on the process of the fast grind system that would give you more control. You would of course still need a blocker, prism rings, and a finer and polisher, but I could see it working the same. You could also run some trilas to see what the average material removal is for different materials and what times it takes to remove that much material and use time as an indicator fo when the lens is the right thickness, of course it would be a bit off due to pad wear and curve variations, but I could see a pretty good estimate being worked out and then fined slowly usig calipers from there for more accuracy on the jobs that are necessary.

[Jacqui]

:idea::idea::idea: I just had a brainstorm !! Instaed of paying $$$ for a Fastgrind, why not use rebuilt cylinder machines?? You would need one cylinder machine for polishing only, and another for grinding with diamond pads and regular fineing. I would use a Coburn 506 (4 spindle) or a 5056 (stacked) unit. You would also need a blocker, marker and tape unit, total cost less than $10,000 (maybe a lot less !!) Total space required 20 - 30 sq, ft. This would do the same job as the Fastgrind, but with the option of using anyone's lenses. :idea::idea::idea:

I had the same idea as Harry, oh well, I'm going to leave it posted anyway. :hammer:

P.S. Harry, you won't get prism on this setup with all the rings in the world !! You will need to generate it on !!

[HarryChiling]

P.S. Harry, you won't get prism on this setup with all the rings in the world !! You will need to generate it on !!

Your right about prism rings not working, I didn't put that much thought into it.:hammer: What about blocking rings with varying angles used like prism rings for the blocker, then it would work. Line up the problems and I'll knock 'em down.:D

Jaqui,
We'll call it the fastest grind, and trade mark faster grind, mwuhaha. That otta outsmart the competition.

[Leo Hadley Jr]

Great Idea!!!!!!

When can I start marketing your product:D:D:D

[HarryChiling]

Great Idea!!!!!!

When can I start marketing your product:D:D:D

How bout we start it at $0.99 on Sunday.:D

[Leo Hadley Jr]

How bout we start it at $0.99 on Sunday.:D

Excellent

[Jacqui]

Your right about prism rings not working, I didn't put that much thought into it.:hammer: What about blocking rings with varying angles used like prism rings for the blocker, then it would work. Line up the problems and I'll knock 'em down.:D

Jaqui,
We'll call it the fastest grind, and trade mark faster grind, mwuhaha. That otta outsmart the competition.

Still have to grind the prism in :finger:

[Jacqui]

How bout we start it at $0.99 on Sunday.:D

Hey !! This is partly my idea !! I think I should get at least $0.33 for it. :D

[HarryChiling]

Still have to grind the prism in :finger:

Wait a minute if the lens is blocked at an angle that is grinding it in.

[Jacqui]

Wait a minute if the lens is blocked at an angle that is grinding it in.

Try it, it won't work the way you think !!

[HarryChiling]

Try it, it won't work the way you think !!

It should, that's how I make slab off's.

[snowmonster]

It would take forever. I think part of the simplicity of the FG system is that you're using pre-blocked blanks but they've already had material removed from the semi-finished lens. So if you take a 10 mm thick blank and try to use a cylinder machine to remove thickness down to a 2.2 mm CT, it will take forever. Their blanks don't take as long because some of the material has already been removed.

[HarryChiling]

It would take forever. I think part of the simplicity of the FG system is that you're using pre-blocked blanks but they've already had material removed from the semi-finished lens. So if you take a 10 mm thick blank and try to use a cylinder machine to remove thickness down to a 2.2 mm CT, it will take forever. Their blanks don't take as long because some of the material has already been removed.

Yeah but I'll give you a good enough deal on a system where you could afford to buy 2 and make up the difference by runnign multiple machines. :bbg:

[DocInChina]

FastGrind had a booth at the Shanghai Optical Show. They seemed to be busy when I walked by their booth.

[MarcE]

So if you take a 10 mm thick blank and try to use a cylinder machine to remove thickness down to a 2.2 mm CT, it will take forever.

Andwith all that cyl grinding, could you actually keep the lens on power, without waves or other problems??

[rbaker]

All you need is a hand pan and some spherical laps. You can hand rock cylinders and prism to your hearts content. Fining will take a little longer but think of all the money you will save especially if you start out with unfinished rough blanks.

[snowmonster]

I'm not a FastGrind proponant, but they remove some of the material/thickness off their pre-blocked lens blanks prior to sending them to you so you don't have to remove all the material that would normally be there. And yes, the power somehow still comes out correct, presumably without waves, etc.

[Jacqui]

I said to use a diamond pad for the rough removal, this should eliminate most of the waves etc.

[mannski]

whoa.. you guys are cool,,truly enabled

[Jacqui]

whoa.. you guys are cool,,truly enabled

Yes, and at least one of us is kinda cute too :D:D

[HarryChiling]

Yes, and at least one of us is kinda cute too :D:D

Thanks. :p

[harry a saake]

so like baker said, this will bring us back to the 60, s where we rocked cylinders all day, whats next blocking with pitch?

[snowmonster]

How about chewing gum?

[HarryChiling]

so like baker said, this will bring us back to the 60, s where we rocked cylinders all day, whats next blocking with pitch?

Sure, but you have to put it into a new sleek bucket and come up with a catchy name. You have to convince us that this new invention of your's called, "Pitch" ;) is vastly more superior than wax or alloy.