Ansys SPEOS: How to Create a Focusing Lens

Ansys SPEOS: How to Create a Focusing Lens Figure 00
Categories:

A common question we get asked is: can a focusing lens be created within Ansys SPEOS? And the answer is yes! And luckily, it’s pretty simple.

For this example, we will use an aspheric lens from Edmund Optics. The drawing provides all the optical parameters needed as inputs in SPEOS.

Ansys SPEOS: How to Create a Focusing Lens Figure 1

Create the Lens in Ansys SPEOS

The lens will be created as a Projection Lens, which can be found in the design Tab of the ribbon bar in the Optical Part Design toolset.

Ansys SPEOS: How to Create a Focusing Lens Figure 2

The definition panel of the Projection Lens is where we can specify all the optical parameters. The z-axis was chosen as the optical axis of the lens to match the optical guidelines of ray propagation. The back focal length, lens thickness, and surface types are all found on the drawing of the lens. The orientation of the lens will follow the side view presented in the drawing. The construction parameters were left as the default settings.

The optical parameters of the back face were inserted from the drawing specifications. The curvature refers to the radius of curvature of the face. The definition panel contains the aspheric terms of each face. The aspheric terms correspond to the lettered terms provided in the aspheric sag equation in the drawing such that D in the drawing corresponds to the 2nd index in SPEOS, E corresponds to the fourth index, F to the 6th index, and so on.

Ansys SPEOS: How to Create a Focusing Lens Figure 3

Once all the parameters are defined, the lens should look like this:

Ansys SPEOS: How to Create a Focusing Lens Figure 4

Since we chose the back face to be the convex surface, the lens is 78.18 mm from the origin, which corresponds to the back focal length. But since the lens will be focusing collimated light to a point, the back focal length value defined does not matter for this example. If the light was diverging from a point source, then the lens would be rotated such that the plano face hits the incoming rays first. This configuration would make the back focal length a critical parameter.

Define Material Properties in Ansys SPEOS

The next step is to define the material properties of the lens. Per the drawing, this lens is made of BK7 substrate, which is part of the Schott Catalog. Luckily for us, there is a Schott Catalog in the Optical Materials Library that contains material properties of BK7. The material file was copied from the Materials Libraries to the project input files. A new material was created and renamed “BK7 Glass.” The Volume Properties Type was set to Library and the material file for BK7 was chosen. The surface property was set to “Optical Polished.” The material was then applied to the lens.

Ansys SPEOS: How to Create a Focusing Lens Figure 5

Simulate the Lens in Ansys SPEOS

Now the lens is all set-up, we can observe its focusing capabilities by having a collimated beam hit the lens and get focused to a point, corresponding to the focal length of the lens.  

Ansys SPEOS: How to Create a Focusing Lens Figure 6

A detector was placed just past the focal length of the lens to observe the beam after focus. The collimated light has been transformed to a Gaussian Beam, as expected.

Ansys SPEOS: How to Create a Focusing Lens Figure 7
Ansys SPEOS: How to Create a Focusing Lens Figure 8

Now that we know how to create a lens in SPEOS, there is an even easier way that skips the Projection Lens creation altogether. Off-the-shelf manufacturers like Edmund Optics provide important files for their parts, like the drawing presented earlier in this post, the corresponding Zemax files, and the .STP files!

This means that all we would need to do is download the .STP file for this lens and import it into SPEOS. Once it is imported, all that is needed is to apply the same BK7 material properties as before. And voila! You’ve got your aspheric lens. Try it out with the Edmund Optics lense we used in this example.

Ansys SPEOS: How to Create a Focusing Lens Figure 9

We hope you find this useful. If you have any questions about Ansys SPEOS or any of the other Ansys optical simulation tools like Ansys Zemax OpticStudio or Ansys Lumerica, please contact us. Also, remember we can help with training, mentoring, and overflow simulation work.

Categories

Certified Elite Channel Partner

Get Your Ansys Products & Support from the Engineers who Contribute to this Blog.

Product Development
Platinum Partner

Technical Expertise to Enable your Addictive Manufacturing Success.

PADT’s Pulse Newsletter

Keep up to date on what is going on at PADT by subscribing to our newsletter.


By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Phoenix Analysis and Design Technologies, 7755 S. Research Dr., Tempe, AZ, 85284, https://www.padtinc.com. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact

Share this post:

Upcoming Events

03/22/2023

2023 Arizona MedTech Conference

03/22/2023

Optimize Jigs & Fixtures with Additive - Webinar

03/15/2023

3D Design Updates in Ansys 2023 R1 - Webinar

03/08/2023

Competitive Advantages of 1D/3D Coupled Simulation - Webinar

03/01/2023

High Frequency Updates in Ansys 2023 R1 - Webinar

02/22/2023

Additive Advantages in Aerospace - Webinar

02/15/2023

Structural Updates in Ansys 2023 R1 (1) - Webinar

02/09/2023

IME 2023: MD&M | WestPack | ATX | D&M | Plastek

02/08/2023

IME 2023 MD&M | WestPack | ATX | D&M | Plastek

02/07/2023

IME 2023 MD&M | WestPack | ATX | D&M | Plastek

01/27/2023

Arizona Photonics Days, 2023

01/26/2023

Arizona Photonics Days, 2023

01/26/2023

TIPE 3D Printing | 2023

01/26/2023

Venture Cafe Phoenix Talent Night - Job Fari

01/26/2023

VFS 2023 Autonomous/Electric VTOL Symposium

01/25/2023

Arizona Photonics Days, 2023

01/25/2023

Building A.M.- Utah: Kickoff!

01/25/2023

TIPE 3D Printing | 2023

01/25/2023

VFS 2023 Autonomous/Electric VTOL Symposium

01/24/2023

VFS 2023 Autonomous/Electric VTOL Symposium

01/24/2023

TIPE 3D Printing | 2023

01/18/2023

2023 AZ Tech Council Golf Tournament

12/21/2022

Simulation Best Practices for 5G Technology - Webinar

12/14/2022

Digital Twins Updates in Ansys 2022 R2 - Webinar

12/08/2022

Tech the Halls - AZ Tech Council Holiday Mixer

12/07/2022

Electric Vehicle and Other Infrastructure Update Panel

11/30/2022

SPEOS Updates in Ansys 2022 R2 - Webinar

11/23/2022

Simulation Best Practices for Electronics Reliability - Webinar

11/16/2022

Discovery Updates in Ansys 2022 R2

11/10/2022

VentureCafe Phoenix Panel: Venture Capital in AZ

11/08/2022

2022 GOVERNOR’S CELEBRATION OF INNOVATION AWARDS + TECH SHOWCASE

11/03/2022

VentureCafe Phoenix Panel: Angel Investment in AZ

11/02/2022

High & Low Frequency Electromagnetics Updates in Ansys 2022 R2

10/26/2022

Simulation Best Practices For Chip-Package-System Design & Development

10/20/2022

Nerdtoberfest 2022

10/19/2022

2022 Southern Arizona Tech + Business Expo

10/19/2022

LS-DYNA Updates in Ansys 2022 R2 - Webinar

10/17/2022

Experience Stratasys Truck Tour - Clearfield Utah

10/14/2022

ASU School of Manufacturing Systems and Networks - Formal Opening Cele

10/14/2022

Experience Stratasys Truck Tour - Midvale Utah

10/12/2022

Experience Stratasys Truck Tour - Littleton Colorado

10/06/2022

Fluids Updates in Ansys 2022 R2 - Webinar

10/05/2022

Experience Stratasys Truck Tour - Colorado Springs

09/29/2022

White Hat Life Science Investor Conference - 2022

09/28/2022

2022 AZBio Awards

09/28/2022

Simulation Best Practices for Rotating Machinery Design & Development

09/21/2022

ExperienceIT NM 2022

09/21/2022

Additive Updates in Ansys 2022 R2 - Webinar

09/14/2022

Rocky Mountain Life Sciences Investor & Partnering Conference

09/08/2022

Ansys Optics Simulation User Group Meeting - Virtual

09/08/2022

Ansys Optics Simulation User Group Meeting

09/07/2022

SI & PI Updates in Ansys 2022 R2 - Webinar

08/31/2022

Simulation Best Practices for Developing Medical Devices - Webinar

08/24/2022

Mechanical Updates in Ansys 2022 R2 - Webinar

08/10/2022

Tucson after5 Tech Mixer: Ruda-Cardinal

08/05/2022

Flagstaff Tech Tour, 2022

08/02/2022

2022 CEO Leadership Retreat

08/01/2022

2022 CEO Leadership Retreat

07/27/2022

Thermal Integrity Updates in Ansys 2022 R1 - Webinar

07/20/2022

Simulation Best Practices for the Pharmaceutical Industry - Webinar

07/14/2022

NCMS Technology Showcase: Corpus Christi Army Depot

07/13/2022

NCMS Technology Showcase: Corpus Christi Army Depot

07/13/2022

Additive & Structural Optimization Updates in Ansys 2022 R1 - Webinar

07/07/2022

Arizona AADM Conference, 2022

06/29/2022

LS-DYNA Updates & Advancements in Ansys 2022 R1 - Webinar

06/23/2022

Simulation Best Practices for Wind Turbine Design - Webinar

06/15/2022

MAPDL Updates & Advancements in Ansys 2022 R1 - Webinar

06/01/2022

Mechanical Updates in Ansys 2022 R1 - pt. 2 Webinar

05/26/2022

Modelling liquid cryogenic rocket engines in Flownex - Webinar

05/25/2022

SMR & Advanced Reactor 2022

05/25/2022

05/24/2022

SMR & Advanced Reactor 2022

05/19/2022

RAPID + tct 2022

05/19/2022

Venture Cafe Roundtable: AI & Healthcare

05/18/2022

Tucson after5 Tech Mixer: World View

05/18/2022

RAPID + tct 2022

More Info

05/18/2022

Signal & Power Integrity Updates in Ansys 2022 R1 - Webinar

05/18/2022

Simulation World 2022

05/17/2022

RAPID + tct 2022

05/11/2022

Experience Stratasys Manufacturing Virtual Event

05/04/2022

Mechanical Meshing Updates in Ansys 2022 R1 - Webinar

04/27/2022

04/22/2022

12TH ANNUAL TUCSON GOLF TOURNAMENT

04/21/2022

04/20/2022

Additional Fluids Updates in Ansys 2022 R1

04/20/2022

Experience Stratasys Tour – Tempe Arizona

04/18/2022

Experience Stratasys Tour - Flagstaff Arizona

04/14/2022

D&M West | MD&M West

04/13/2022

D&M West | MD&M West

04/13/2022

Experience Stratasys Tour - Albuquerque New Mexico

04/12/2022

D&M West | MD&M West

04/12/2022

Experience Stratasys Tour - Los Alamos New Mexico

04/12/2022

Optimizing Engineering Workflows f​​​​or Propulsion System Design

04/07/2022

Experience Stratasys Tour - Austin Texas

04/07/2022

37th Space Symposium - Arizona Space Industry

04/06/2022

Transforming Digital Engineering with Ansys Discovery 2022 R1

04/06/2022

37th Space Symposium - Arizona Space Industry

04/05/2022

37th Space Symposium - Arizona Space Industry

04/04/2022

37th Space Symposium - Arizona Space Industry

Search in PADT site

Contact Us

Most of our customers receive their support over the phone or via email. Customers who are close by can also set up a face-to-face appointment with one of our engineers.

For most locations, simply contact us: