June 20, 2012 — LUXeXcel introduced its one-step 3D Printoptical printing process for plastic optics for lighting fixtures. The optics can be custom manufactured from a CAD model, on demand, at prices competitive with injection molding. The manufacturing process eliminates molds and tooling.
LTI Optics’ Photopia Parametric Optical Design Tools module enables creation of optical designs to achieve a prescribed distribution of light. All of the key aspects of the design that affect the light control are parameterized in ways meaningful to optical design. Lighting manufacturers can combine Photopia software for creation and verification of CAD models with LUXeXceL’s Printoptical technology for mass customized manufacturing. LUXeXcel reports that initial product development costs and working capital requirements are reduced with this system, enabling a wider product range.
Photopia was originally developed to “enable simulation study of alternative designs prior to incurring the high expense of tooling for an optic to be physically produced,” said Mark Jongewaard, president of LTI Optics. “Now as a software partner for LUXeXceL’s zero-tooling Printoptical manufacturing services, Photopia has a second value proposition to enable rapid custom variations of a proven design for immediate manufacture.”
According to Richard van de Vrie, CEO of the LUXeXceL Group, “The combination of Photopia software and Printoptical manufacturing is the digitization of plastic optics design and fabrication. A Photopia design becomes a digital “mold,” enabling any correction or change to be implemented immediately. The Printoptical manufacturing service is on-demand with an economic order quantity of one (EOQ1), so inventory is also digital, requiring minimal working capital and eliminating write-offs of obsolete stock.”
LTI Optics develops and sells the Photopia optical design software and provides optical design consulting services. For more information, please visit www.ltioptics.com.
LUXeXceL Group BV, is the inventor and exclusive provider of Printoptical fabrication services, the new digital 3D printing technology which enables prototyping and manufacture of plastic optics for the lighting industry and other applications. For more information, please visit www.luxexcel.com