Profession optical instrument assembler

Optical instrument assemblers read blueprints and assembly drawings to assemble lenses and optical instruments, such as microscopes, telescopes, projection equipment, and medical diagnostic equipment. They process, grind, polish, and coat glass materials, centre lenses according to the optical axis, and cement them to the optical frame. They may test the instruments after assembly.

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Personality Type

• Enterprising / Conventional
• Realistic / Investigative
• Realistic / Conventional

Knowledge

• Types of optical instruments

  Possess information on the types of optical instruments and lenses, such as microscopes and telescopes, as well as on their mechanics, components, and characteristics.

• Optical equipment standards

  The national and international quality and safety standards and regulations with regards to the use and manufacture of optical equipment, including optical materials, optical components, optical systems, ophthalmic equipment, optomechanical equipment, optical measuring equipment, photographic equipment, and optoelectronic equipment.

• Glass coatings

  Coatings used to protect glass from damage, to influence its behaviour when damaged, to keep harmful UV rays out, and others. Their usage cases, advantages and disadvantages and price points.

• Optical glass characteristics

  The characteristics of optical glass such as refractive index, dispersion, and chemical properties.

• Optical manufacturing process

  The process and different stages of manufacturing an optical product, from design and prototyping to the preparation of optical components and lenses, the assembly of optical equipment, and the intermediate and final testing of the optical products and its components.

• Quality standards

  The national and international requirements, specifications and guidelines to ensure that products, services and processes are of good quality and fit for purpose.

• Optical components

  The components and materials necessary for building optical instruments, such as lenses and frames.

• Glass tempering

  Technique of treating glass with high temperatures to increase its durability and safety.

Skills

• Verify lenses compliance

  Verify that lenses are according to the specifications.

• Grind glass

  Grind and polish glass or lenses smooth through the application of a range of glass grinding techniques. Glass can be ground using hand tools or glass grinding machinery. Treat the glass with abrasive chemicals during the process.

• Mount optical components on frames

  Mount optical components, such as lenses, and precision mechanical components, such as frames, into assemblies and adjust. Lenses are mechanically set into place using threaded retaining rings and the use of adhesive cement on the outer cylindrical edge to hold individual lenses in place.

• Apply optical coating

  Apply coating to optical lenses, such as reflective coating to mirrors, anti-reflective coatings to camera lenses, or tinted coatings to sunglasses.

• Read assembly drawings

  Read and interpret drawings listing all the parts and subassemblies of a certain product. The drawing identifies the different components and materials and provides instructions on how to assemble a product.

• Use precision tools

  Use electronic, mechanical, electric, or optical precision tools for precision work.

• Centre lenses

  Adjust optical axis and mechanical axis of lenses so that they would coincident. This process is called centring.

• Join lenses

  Join the individual glass lenses together with other lenses using cement.

• Operate optical equipment

  Use specific optical machinery in order to cut, polish, adjust and refine optics.

• Manipulate glass

  Manipulate the properties, shape and size of glass.

• Clean optical components

  Clean optical components after every cycle in the manufacturing process.

• Inspect quality of products

  Use various techniques to ensure the product quality is respecting the quality standards and specifications. Oversee defects, packaging and sendbacks of products to different production departments.

• Operate precision measuring equipment

  Measure the size of a processed part when checking and marking it to check if it is up to standard by use of two and three dimensional precision measuring equipment such as a caliper, a micrometer, and a measuring gauge.

• Remove defective products

  Remove defective materials from the production line.

• Ensure conformity to specifications

  Ensure that the assembled products are conform to the specifications given.

• Meet deadlines

  Ensure operative processes are finished at a previously agreed-upon time.

• Cut glass

  Use glass cutting tools or diamond blades to cut pieces out of glass plates, including mirrors.

• Report defective manufacturing materials

  Maintain required company records and forms in order to report any defective materials or questionable conditions of manufacturing machinery and equipment.

• Smooth glass surface

  Smooth glass or lens surfaces of optical instruments with grinding and polishing tools, such as diamond tools.

• Operate optical assembly equipment

  Set up and operate optical processing or assembly equipment, such as optical spectrum analysers, power saws, lasers, die bonders, soldering irons, and wire bonders.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB