Ultra Optics

[godin33]

I am inquiring about both the machines and the coatings.
What has been your experiences?
I want to be able to offer a good warranty against scratches, so what would be Ultra Optics' BEST coating?

Thanks!

[hipoptical]

Ultra is the most widely used these days, I think. The machines are good, and although there are different coatings available, most people use the UV-NV. It is a tintable coating that resists scratching, but is not truly the best you can get. The problem is that if you want to tint some lenses you need to be aware that some front-side coats from manufacturers these days are not tintable. Non-tintable coatings are better for scratch-resistance, which you can get from Ultra, but if you have a NT on both sides and want to tint the lens, you just lost a pair of lenses. If you call Ultra, they will tell you the same... you'll be better off with the UV-NV.
BTW: the number of lenses you will get back for scratches on the back of a lens you coat will be very small with the UV-NV. If you are a retailer, you will likely not get any back. If you want to surface, coat, the send out for A/R using the Ultra coat, then you may get some back for A/R peeling (depending on who coats it) but even that will be a relatively small number.

[godin33]

So on a whole, Ultra is as good as they say they are.
Thanks for the info!

[DocInChina]

Just to clarify: a tintable hard coat is not suitable for AR coating. It is a much softer, permeable coating which in part makes it tintable. If you apply an AR coating to a tintable hard coat (as hipoptical points out) you should expect peeling.

[godin33]

Thanks for the info!
Hey DocInChina, do you still have any of that surfacing equipment you're trying to sell?
Thanks again,

[DocInChina]

Thanks for the info!
Hey DocInChina, do you still have any of that surfacing equipment you're trying to sell? Thanks again,

I decided to keep it.

[godin33]

Ok so let me ask you, why did you decide to go with Optek for most of your equipment? I've been looking into starting a small surfacing lab for our OD's practice and it's basically between Optek and Gerber Coburn.
Is there anybody else you could suggest looking at?
Thanks!
If you decide to sell, let me know :p

[gemstone]

At least take a look.

http://opticalworks.com/index.cfm?xss=233117X211006

[gemstone]

Just to clarify: a tintable hard coat is not suitable for AR coating. It is a much softer, permeable coating which in part makes it tintable. If you apply an AR coating to a tintable hard coat (as hipoptical points out) you should expect peeling.

We used the tintable for many years for A/R without problems.

[DocInChina]

Ok so let me ask you, why did you decide to go with Optek for most of your equipment? I've been looking into starting a small surfacing lab for our OD's practice and it's basically between Optek and Gerber Coburn. Is there anybody else you could suggest looking at?
Thanks! If you decide to sell, let me know :p

I research alot of equipment over the past few years and concluded that Optek would be right for us. They have a solid reputation for quality and excellent support which is crucial.

[MAFPRECOPT]

JUST AN FYI, WE USE THE ULTRA OPTICS UV/NV AND HAVE FOR 15 YEARS AND WOULD ABSOLUTELY RECOMMEND IT. WE HAVE IN FACT SOLD SO MUCH OF IT TO OUR LABS THAT WE GET A REALLY GOOD PRICE, CHEAPER THAN YOU CAN GET DIRECTLY FROM THE MANUFACTURER. SO IF YOU DECIDE TO GO WITH THE ULTRA OPTICS LET ME KNOW AND ILL PASS THOSE SAVINGS ON TO YOU!

[DocInChina]

We used the tintable for many years for A/R without problems.

I should have phrased what I said differently: if you use a tintable hard coat and the AR coating peels I would not be surprised.

[gemstone]

I should have phrased what I said differently: if you use a tintable hard coat and the AR coating peels I would not be surprised.

Thing is, Doc if you use the harder untintable, you got to have two coating machines.

[DocInChina]

Thing is, Doc if you use the harder untintable, you got to have two coating machines.

We surface uncoated lenses and then dip coat the lenses in either tintable or non-tintable HC. I understand your dilemma so you have no choice.

[gemstone]

We surface uncoated lenses and then dip coat the lenses in either tintable or non-tintable HC. I understand your dilemma so you have no choice.

Is that good for surfaced poly? How do you cure it?

[DocInChina]

Is that good for surfaced poly? How do you cure it?

Oops, I was referring to resin lenses.

[godin33]

Doc, Uncoated as in front and back? What kind of SR coater do you use?