Wexmar provides CNC machining for optics and photonics companies from our shop in Canastota, New York. Optical system designers, laser makers, imaging and sensor companies and research groups use us as an optics machine shop for the mechanical hardware that holds glass in place: lens barrels, cells, retaining rings, spacers, mounts, adapter plates and housings. The work depends on concentric turning, fine threads and flat, square mounting faces, which suits our lathes, Swiss machines and horizontal machining centers.
What optics and photonics buyers order from a machine shop
Optomechanical parts are usually small to mid-size and carry tight relationships between bores, shoulders and threads. Typical parts include:
- Lens barrels and cells with stepped bores, seats and internal threads.
- Retaining rings and spacers with fine threads and precise thickness.
- Kinematic and fixed mounts for mirrors, lenses and beam splitters.
- Adapter plates and breadboard hardware with tapped hole grids.
- Sensor and camera housings with sealing grooves and window seats.
- Laser module housings, heat spreaders and fiber mounts.
- Posts, standoffs and small precision pins.
Materials common to optomechanical parts
Aluminum 6061-T6 is the most common choice for barrels, mounts and housings because it machines well and takes black anodize, which is applied through qualified outside processors to reduce stray light. 7075-T651 is used where stiffness matters. Stainless steels such as 303, 416 and 17-4 PH are chosen for thermal stability, wear resistance on threads, or where the part mates with steel. Titanium offers a thermal expansion rate closer to many optical glasses. Brass is used for small threaded rings and adjusters, and copper for heat spreaders in laser assemblies. Engineered plastics such as PEEK and Ultem appear as insulating spacers. See our materials page for grade notes.
Tolerances, finishes and documentation
Optical alignment depends on how well a barrel holds its glass on axis. Typical callouts include bore diameters at ±.0005 in., concentricity or runout between lens seats within .0005 to .001 in., shoulder squareness to the axis within .0005 in., and spacer thickness at ±.0005 in. Retaining rings frequently use fine threads, such as 32 to 48 threads per inch or metric fine pitches, that must engage smoothly without binding. Mounting faces for adapter plates often carry flatness of .001 in.
Black anodize, chemical conversion coating, passivation and other finishes are performed through qualified outside processors, and we account for coating thickness on threads and bores. Documentation available includes CMM reports, optical comparator profiles for thread and edge features, material certs and a certificate of conformance. First article inspection in AS9102 format is available for programs that need it.
Quantity patterns: prototype, instrument builds and production
Optics programs often begin with 1 to 5 prototype sets while the optical design is still settling. Instrument builders then order 10 to 100 sets per build. Established product lines release production lots of several hundred to a few thousand barrels, rings and spacers. Because rings and spacers are usually part of a matched set, we quote them together so every component in the stack comes from the same lot.
How our floor handles CNC machining for optics and photonics
Turning barrels and rings
Ten CNC lathes with live tooling and Y-axis turn barrels and cells with multiple seats in one chucking, which is how concentricity is held between bores. Live tooling adds slots, spanner holes and radial tapped holes without moving the part. See our CNC turning page.
Swiss for small rings, spacers and pins
Four Maier MLK-32 Swiss machines produce small retaining rings, spacers, posts and pins to 32 mm diameter, with the guide bushing supporting thin-walled parts near the cut.
Horizontal milling and inspection
Six horizontal machining centers with pallet changers run 3- and 4-axis horizontal milling on mounts, plates and housings. A surface grinder finishes flat mounting faces, and two Brown & Sharpe CMMs plus a Mitsubishi optical comparator verify bore relationships and thread profiles. Our inspection and quality page has more detail.
Typical optics parts, materials and tolerances
| Part | Common material | Typical tolerance | Primary process |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lens barrel | 6061-T6, 416 | ±.0005 in. bores, .0005 in. runout | Lathe with live tooling |
| Retaining ring | 6061-T6, brass | Fine threads, ±.001 in. | Swiss or lathe |
| Lens spacer | 6061-T6, titanium | ±.0005 in. thickness | Swiss or lathe |
| Mirror mount | 7075-T651 | .001 in. flatness | Horizontal milling |
| Adapter plate | 6061-T6 | ±.002 in. hole position | Horizontal milling |
| Heat spreader | Copper C110 | .001 in. flatness | Horizontal milling, surface grind |
Getting a quote
Send drawings or STEP files for each part in the optical stack, quantities per set, and finish requirements. You can upload a drawing for an instant estimate, and a human estimator confirms every quote. For optics and photonics parts, call (315) 400-2654, Monday through Friday, 7 to 4 Eastern, or email ron@backwell.com.