How to Use Glass to Make a Camera Lens

Glass camera lenses come from blocks of optical glass specially designed for use in cameras. The process is long and technical and requires the use of special cutting, grinding and polishing machines. The lens cutting process begins with a highly specialized lens design.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. Use a diamond blade to cut up a block of specially designed optical glass for use as a camera lens. Optical glass is available directly from fine glass manufacturers.

2. Use water with the diamond blade to prevent the blade from burning the glass.

3. Place the glass onto a piece of wax and then on a thinner piece of glass.

4. Put the slice of glass under a diamond drill and then use a diamond drill to cut several round slices from the larger piece.

5. Pull the circle cuts away from the larger piece after the wax has melted a bit.

6. Use a spinning sculpting device to sculpt the glass circle into a lens. Check the lens after it comes off of the sculpting device for chips, abrasions or imperfections in the surface.

7. Cut the diameter of the lens down to size after the lenses are polished.

Tips & Warnings

• Optical glass is extremely expensive, so be careful not to waste any of the product when doing the cutting.
• Most camera lenses come from highly specialize factories with the proper equipment for cutting, polishing and finishing the lens.
• Always use proper eye and ear protection when using diamond cutting blades and other high-powered equipment.