Manufacturing and measurement of freeform optics

Freeform optics is the next-generation of modern optics, bringing advantages of excellent optical performance and system integration. It finds wide applications in various fields, such as new energy, illumination, aerospace and biomedical engineering. The manufacturing of freeform optics is an integrated technology involving optical design, machining, moulding, measurement and characterization. This paper surveys the current application status and research on major technologies in details. (C) 2013 CIRP.