I am in the market for a new hard-coater, and would prefer a small dip coater with thermal curing. Capacity of about 100-150 jobs a shift.
UltraOptics makes great spin coaters, but I want dip for less catalyst and coating both sides.
Your recommendations are appreciated.
Van have you checked with Leybold?
There's is either too big, or too small me thinks. I need a medium size. Its a nice coater though, but I would have to take out a wall (or two).
Originally Posted by GokhanSF
Would not you be limited to only uncoated blanks with dipcoater?
No, some can coat over existing HC's.
What is the price range of them?
Suggested Optimal Technologies or SCL International. Both of them sre the experts in dip coating.
I will pm you when I have more information.
Would not you be limited to only uncoated blanks .............................
A very smart question by Lenny ....................
Thermocure materials are very touchy ballerinas, they have to shipped in dry ice, kept in fridge or freezer. Have to be used in a kleen room environment and have to be applied in perfect humidity and temperature environments.
Factory coated lenses have been coated with the same type, thermocure coating materials which on CR 39 are silicon based, which tends to shed another hard coating applied on it.
Chris, good points on all counts. a couple of manufactures claim their dip coatings will go over others (some) with special primers. I have not tested it, but I will let you know when I get some samples back. Stripping and recoating is done by the top AR labs, but it is time consuming and involves redundant expenses. The end result though is more durable AR.
Your AR is only as good as your Hard Coat (Hard coat is about 65%-70 of a AR durability, about 30-35% is due to the Hydrophobic top coat) Although the top coat is not inherantly a HC it has the secondary effect of shedding abrasive materials that could scratch a lens. So in real world use it improves durability because less dirt sticks to the surface, and thier is less for it to grab onto.
1.74 HC is the most unstable, and the reason 1.74 is so expensive is the Abbe matched HC it needs. It only last about 30-40 days, and a container is worth is weight in gold.
Sharpstick, a good comment .....................
There have been studies made already years ago, proofing that a super slick coat can very well act as a scratch resistant treatment, just as you say. Specially if you add an antistat ingredient which will disperse any static charge so that even dust will not cling to it.
I have been practically playing with this idea for the last 2 years and found a solution last year that works by just spraying it on the lenses and wipe it with a soft paper tissue. I applied it on my computer glasses, un-coated CR39, (no AR) 10 month ago. It is still there and as slippery as ever, never had to re-apply it so far, and the lenses are still like new. The glasses have never been in a case, they get the transport in any type of pocket and are abused on purpose.
Of course the cost to apply such a treatment is much less expensive than a hard coat and needs no machinery for the application. However it will not work for un coated Poly as that material is much too soft.
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