AMONG the trends in optical equipment today are automation, compatibility, integration, and a re-duction in size, all of which improve the ease of use of the equipment and result in the need for less and less optical knowledge on the part of the operator. These trends are found in today’s blockers, some of which act as stand-alone units, while others come as a part of complete systems that block, trace, and edge lenses. The following are some of the blockers that are available today:
A.I.T. Industries
Blockers integrated with edging systems are available from A.I.T. Industries. Its COMBIMAX uses DIP (Digital Image Processing) technology and combines a tracer, blocker, and centering device in a single module. The centering device achieves automatic recognition of lenses and performs a fully automatic block function.
Blocker features include a totally parallax-free camera-assisted optical system, new software that permits the modification of the horizontal or vertical measurement without affecting any variation of the pupil distance, real image processing for detection of lens type and markings, and automatic “intelligent” centering for automatic correction of centering errors.
Also combining tracing and blocking in one device is A.I.T.’s CNC-3D blocker, which features 3-D tracing of frames, patterns, demo lenses, and lenses. Both vertical and horizontal boxing can be modified by the operator. Featuring automatic calibration, self diagnosis, and memory for 40 jobs, the CNC-3D blocker is compliant with the VCA/OMA Communication Standard for both tracing and blocking.
Stand-alone blockers available from A.I.T. include the Speede® Blocker and the Speede Blocker Pro. The Speede Blocker features unique horizontal and vertical alignment adjustments and adapters available for most blocking systems. The blocker’s use is simplified by a front-loading design, and the device eliminates parallax and seg distortion with binocular reflection viewing.
Developed in conjunction with INDO, the Speede Blocker Pro includes a parallax-free blocking environment, OMA 3.02 compati-bility to integrate with lab host software, automatic job cutout confirmation, bar code compatibility, and job-storage capacity.
Briot USA
The Alta Edging and Drilling System from Briot USA features a blocking device that comes in combination with a tracer and an edger. The entire system includes the Alta tracer-blocker and the Alta edger, which are linked with Briot software. Blocking is completely automated for all premium lens materials and for all styles of traditional and rimless eyewear.
Speed and accuracy are achieved because the Alta finds the optical center and blocks automatically, reducing the time and skill re-quired to finish lenses. The Alta reads lens powers without a lensometer and detects the bifocal near-vision segment and progressive lens markings automatically. The block is applied automatically using new electromagnetic blocks. Plus, Alta automatically identifies the optimum block size.
Also available from Briot is the Axcell CL-D Edging System, which includes automatic blocking capa-bilities. Like other automated blockers, this one does everything automatically and requires minimal operator skill. The Axell CL-D’s automatic layout and blocking functions help to eliminate blocking-related errors, a major cause of redos. Briot’s Accura Cx and Accura Pro patternless edging technology also includes built-in blocking devices.
Gerber Coburn Eclipse
With an automatic one-touch blocking feature, Gerber Coburn’s Eclipse Surface Blocker™ allows operators to block and chill the lens in a single step. The Eclipse dispenses either FreeBond™ or alloy and employs Gerber’s standard pin blocks or AcuBlock™ blocks. The 10-in. view screen displays a computer-generated lens alignment template with no gridlines to obscure targets for an accurate, automatic setup that eliminates marking equipment.
The internal front lens camera provides parallax-free viewing of the front side of the lens being laid out to ensure precise lens-to-target alignment. The Eclipse’s block-adaption system allows labs to use their current inventory of blocks without investing in new blocks, and an automatic block and lens detection system alerts the user if a lens or block is not detected before blocking is initiated. Other features include a small diameter blocking fixture to generate lenses to 45mm, an interactive material filler, automatic material fill with overflow sensors, and a turbo chilling chamber.
National Optronics
Maintaining the trend toward automation, National Optronics’ 3B Finish Blocker offers specifically designed features and software applications to enhance the user interface and speed up the blocking process.
Fast operation and ease of use also result from the software’s ability to store jobs, up to 200, which can be accessed directly by an edger or saved at the blocker for fast processing of common or one-lens jobs.
Automation not only increases the speed at which the blocker can be operated and simplifies its use, but it also improves blocking accuracy. By using projection imagery to display the front image of the lens, the distance between the object and the image is reduced to 0.5mm, thereby improving the accuracy of the image. The use of projection imagery reduces the parallax and accidental refraction, which eliminates any blocking errors that might have resulted.
Further distortion is eliminated because the calibrated scale on the screen matches the scale of the lens. The viewing screen’s characteristics further simplify the use of the machine for the operator. Its wider viewing angle allows the operator to comfortably operate the 3B Blocker either sitting or standing while viewing the monitor for blocking, and a split screen allows the operator to view the job screen and the lens layout image.
Communication with edgers is also automated as the 3B Blocker supports the OMA V3.3-compatible software offered by most host software companies. Future 3B Blocker software upgrades will be offered via the National Optronics’ Web site and can be upgraded through the customer’s computer or National Optronics’ 6E Edger.
Santinelli International, Inc.
There are a number of built-in features designed to simplify blocking using Santinelli Inter-national, Inc.’s ICE-Mini Intel-ligent Blocker. To prevent blocking errors, the ICE-Mini features a three-pin oscillating lens stage with lens retaining clamp, which allows the operator to block the lens without any chance of lens movement, even with the most difficult slab-off lenses.
The device’s large 8.4-in. LCD color touch screen enhances the ease of operation, and the traced outline and finished outline of the lens are simultaneously displayed in actual size to help determine if the external outline is sufficient for the traced outline. The ICE-Mini can be directly connected to a lens edger such as any of Santinelli’s LE-9000 series edgers. The traced data obtained with the built-in tracer of the LE-9000 edger are automatically stored into the ICE-Mini’s internal memory.
Santinelli’s ICE-9000 NT is an Automatic Blocker, which is also available with a combined tracer in the ICE-9000 NT Auto-matic Blocker/ Tracer. The ICE-9000 NT is a layout blocker system that automatically aligns single vision, multifocal, and progressive lenses.
In keeping with the trend of automation to reduce operator error, this blocker utilizes state-of-the-art technology to rotate the blocking head for precise location and for blocking lenses on a 180° axis. Compared to conventional blocking, which requires operator involvement, the ICE-9000 blocking arm moves in both the x and y directions automatically.
For accurate and easy blocking, the ICE-9000 NT recognizes the multifocal segment, and for blocking progressive lenses, the blocker acknowledges printed marks and enhanced laser marks. It is VCA compliant and will inter-face with all edgers’ and VCA-compliant software. The combination tracer digitizes 32,000 points of reference per eye.
Featuring an on-board ALM (Auto Lens Meter), the ICE-9000 enables lens blocking without having to mark and center lenses, further simplifying the process and increasing accuracy. The operator need only insert the lens, and the ICE-9000 takes over, automatically blocking any lens with great precision.
Topcon/ODI
The DS-7000 Automatic Layout/ Blocker from Topcon/ODI delivers ease of use through automation so that little or no optical experience is required to lay out and block a job easily and accurately.
It detects the type of lens and automatically tracks the ideal block position for all single vision and multifocal lenses and blocks them. To further enable usage of the device by optical novices, with a wide sphere and cylinder measurement range, the unit also features a Progressive Addition Lens Identifier to illuminate “hidden engravings” on lenses, eliminating possible optical dispensing errors, clearly identifying the manufacturer, model, lens, power engravings, positional reference points, and laser engravings that appear on the lens.
The simple three-step measuring process works as follows: the operator places the lens on the layout table, selects the “Right” or “Left” button, and instantly obtains the proper measurement.
Further ease of use is provided by the DS-7000’s user-friendly graphic interface with a large 10.4-in. color LCD screen and Windows® format software with intuitive drop-down menus. The DS-7000 also integrates with the Topcon ULTIMA Family of Patternless Edgers.
Because the blockers available today are fully automated and quick and easy to use, you no longer need to block out a lot of time to complete blocking functions when finishing lenses.
For large-scale operations or small in-office labs that require devices with small footprints, today’s blockers offer a multitude of capabilities.
WHERE TO FIND IT
A.I.T. Industries
800-729-1959
aitindustries.com
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National Optronics
800-247-9796
nationaloptronics.com |
Briot USA
800-292-7468
briot-usa.com |
Santinelli
International, Inc.
800-644-3343
santinelli.com |
Gerber Coburn
800-843-1479
gerbercoburn.com
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Topcon/ODI
888-551-2020
topcon.com
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INDO Lens US Inc.
888-440-4636
indolens.com |
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