CaF2 Plano-Convex Lenses

Plano-convex (PCX) Lens is an optical lens with one plane face, one convex face, and a positive focal length, utilized for collecting, focusing collimated lights, collimating lights from a point source, or reducing the focal length of a lens group. Compared to Biconvex lenses,  Plano-convex lenses have two unidentical sides and therefore work best for an infinite absolute conjugate ratio (objective distance: image distance). However, plano-convex lenses still reduce spherical aberrations to a quite low extent when the absolute conjugate ratio is greater than 5:1. For conjugate ratio below 5:1, consider using plano-convex lenses in pairs or a biconvex lens.

Calcium Fluoride(CaF2) is an excellent optical material with its natural high transmission from UV to MWIR wavelengths (180-8000nm) with favorably low levels of fluorescence, therefore it is widely utilized in infrared, and ultraviolet optical systems. The prominent LIDT(Laser-Induced Damage Threshold) of CaF2 permitted its usage in high-energy detectors and excimer lasers. Besides, Calcium Fluoride is also more mechanically durable and chemically stable than other fluoride counterparts, the hardness of CaF2 is twice the magnitude of that of BaF2, with the addition that CaF2 is not prone to deliquesce and enduring thermal shock. 

This page highlights Shalom EO’s Stocked and Custom CaF2 Plano Convex Lenses, whilst you can browse and shop Off-the-Shelf N-BK7 Plano Convex Lenses, Off-the-Shelf UVFS Plano Convex Lenses, and custom plano convex lenses made from a wide assortment of optical materials including sapphire, ruby, Flint Glass/BaF2/Ge/Si, etc. Shalom EO is a proficient and capable supplier and manufacturer of optical lens components. The calcium fluoride we use to fabricate optical lenses exhibits high purities to ensure minimized OH contents, which are harmful to IR transmission. Shalom EO also leverages a stringent inspection procedure to ensure that the actual parameters of the lenses comply with our published specifications.

Our CaF2 plano convex lenses (standard) have diameters ranging from 12.7mm to 25.4mm and focal lengths ranging from 20mm to 1000mm, encompassing short focal lengths, mid-focal lengths, and long focal lengths. These stock CaF2 plano-convex lenses are currently available in uncoated versions, but custom coatings including Broadband AR Coatings (BBAR) with superior broadband performance, V coatings with minimized reflection over a narrow waveband, and MgF2 with high price-competitiveness are all procurable through inquiries. The stocked CaF2 flat convex lenses have a conventional surface smoothness of 80/50 S/D and >80% clear aperture. However, Shalom EO is also capable to manufacture Calcium Fluoride plano-convex lens components with higher precision if you have stricter requirements for the final performance. 

Specifications:

Material Properties of N-BK7: