Design Your Own 3D-Printed Lenses With LUXeXceL's New Tools

We've told you before about LUXeXceL's 3D-printable clear optical material and Printoptical Technology that you can use to order optical components online. Now you can also create custom lens designs optimized for your particular application using two new tools.

Collaborating with trinckle 3D, creator of web-based software solutions for 3D model files, LUXeXceL has developed two new lens creator tools for designing custom plano convex or concave lenses. These can then be ordered using LUXeXceL's automated online portal for Printoptical Technology to print optical products without visible layering.

LUXeXceL says it wants to redefine the way optical products are designed and manufactured. The trinckle 3D platform makes it possible to bring optics design within the reach of every design engineer. The new lens creators automate most of the work required, eliminating the need to create CAD files. After you enter basic optical values like focal length and lens diameter, the file is saved to your personal gallery, which you can access to order it online.

Here's a short video that gives an idea of what it's like to use the tool:

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Design engineers can also upload their own custom 3D files for optical designs created in other software programs. Most file types are supported by the online ordering platform. For more complex lens designs, you can talk to one of the LUXeXceL-approved designers at the company's Designer Hub, who can help with complex lens designs and custom solutions.

Ann R. Thryft is senior technology editor, materials & assembly, for Design News. She's been writing about manufacturing- and electronics-related technologies for 27 years, covering manufacturing materials & processes, alternative energy, and robotics. In the past, she's also written about machine vision and all kinds of communications.