INGENERIC MLAs

Cylindrical and acylindrical microlens arrays

INGENERIC MLA

INGENERIC’s cylindrical and acylindrical microlens arrays are precision-molded glass micro-optics for applications where light is selectively shaped, transformed, or homogenized along an axis. They are particularly well-suited for optical systems featuring asymmetric beam profiles, line illumination, or multiple parallel beam channels.

Cylindrical lenses operate primarily along a defined axis. This allows them to focus or collimate light in one direction while leaving the second axis largely unaffected. Acylindrical lenses extend this function through application-specific corrected curvature profiles. They can be used to reduce aberrations, precisely tailor beam profiles, or stabilize focal positions.

Custom Microlens Arrays

The arrays are manufactured as monolithic glass optics and customized in terms of focal length, pitch, aperture, array length, center thickness, and mechanical integration. Crucial to optical performance is the precise realization of the individual lenslet geometries across the entire array surface. High pitch repeatability ensures accurate positioning of the lens elements, minimizes beam-pointing errors, and contributes to stable focal positions. Minimal transition zones between lenslets increase the optically usable area of the array and reduce unwanted losses.

By precisely transferring defined cylindrical or acylindrical profiles to each individual lenslet, arrays with high shape fidelity and reproducible beam shaping are created. This yields compact glass microlens arrays that enable precise optical functions across the entire array surface and are suitable for systems where efficient light utilization, stable focal positions, and high reproducibility are critical.

Technical Highlights:

Targeted beam shaping in one axis

The lens geometry acts primarily along a defined direction—for a controlled transformation of asymmetric beam profiles.

Efficient
Homogenization

Durch die präzise Anordnung der Linsen können Lichtverteilungen geglättet und über definierte Bereiche verteilt werden.

High pitch repeatability

Precise positioning of the individual lenses for stable beam directions and reproducible optical results across the entire array.

Stable
focus position

Small shape deviations and defined curvatures contribute to a constant focus position.

Acylindrical correction for sophisticated designs

Acylindrical surfaces can be used to reduce imaging errors and optimize beam quality.

Minimized
transition zones

Small dead zones between the lenslets increase the usable optical area and support efficient light guidance.

Monolithic
glass optics

The one-piece design reduces installation effort and supports stable optical alignment within the target system.

Precision for
Serial Production

The manufacturing process enables the reproducible production of customized MLAs, ranging from prototypes to series production.

Precise beam shaping for high-power lasers

For the efficient transformation and homogenization of high-power laser beams.

Close-up of a cylindrical INGENERIC microlens array wafer.

Close-up of an cylindrical INGENERIC microlens-array.

Focus on our cylindrical MLAs

Choose from our standard products or contact us for a customized solution.

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Lens type	L [mm]	W [mm]	CT [mm]	EFL [mm]	PE [mm]	Material
Homogenizer Array-18.5	35.0	28.0	2.0	18.5	1.3	K-VC89
Homogenizer Array-19.4	15.0 x 12.0	20	2.0	19.4	0.8	K-VC89

Material: Optical glass (high-index material)
Max. array size: 40.0 x 40.0 mm
EFL: 1.0 … 35.0 mm
Pitch: 0.2 … 5.0 mm
Pitch accuracy: < 2 µm over 25 mm
Geometric accuracy: < 100 nm
EFL tolerance: < 1%
Transition zones between lens elements: < 10 µm
Application: e.g., homogenization < 2 kW

Precision manufacturing to industrial standards:

Isothermal Precision Glass Molding

Our manufacturing process offers numerous advantages:

Wafer-scale optics manufacturing for high volumes and cost-efficiency

Extremely tight manufacturing tolerances for precise optical properties

Precision molding for high geometric accuracy and uniformity

In-mold compression molding for high reproducibility of the optical shape

In-house metrology for inspecting optical and geometric properties

Automated assembly processes for reproducible optical alignment

Thermally stable optical glasses with low absorption

Great geometric freedom for custom designs

About our process chain

The result is micro-optics and lens arrays that offer series-production quality, stability, and excellent reproducibility.

Additional Services:

Custom design of EFL and pitch

Adjustment of focal length, pitch, and array geometry to the desired beam steering.

Acylindrical profile optimization

Development of corrected lens profiles to reduce aberrations and stabilize the focal position.

Adjustment of length, aperture, and geometry

Project-specific dimensioning of array length, aperture shape, center thickness, and optically active area.

Coatings for high transmission

Anti-reflective coatings and suitable coatings for the specific wavelength and the glass material used.

Markings and alignment features

Fiducial marks, stand-offs, markings, or support structures for easier positioning and integration.

Development services

Support from our development engineers – from the initial feasibility assessment and prototypes through to production-ready manufacturing.

Quality

For cylindrical and acylindrical MLAs, stable focus positions, repeatable beam shaping and reliable serial quality are the main focus. Optical performance depends significantly on the precise realization of the lens profiles, pitch accuracy, and uniformity across the entire array.

INGENERIC relies on strict quality management as well as quality-assured manufacturing and measurement processes. Function-relevant parameters such as shape errors, pitch, focal length, surface quality, transition zones and center thickness are checked using extensive in-house measurement technology. This allows MLAs to be implemented for industrial optical systems with reproducible performance.

Upon request, custom test setups can be implemented to evaluate optical properties under application-relevant conditions and correlate them with actual operating environments. This results in cylindrical and acylindrical glass arrays with stable focus position, reliable collimation or homogenization and consistent optical properties in series production.

Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs

Where are INGENERIC products manufactured?

Our products are manufactured in Germany at our company headquarters. Production is therefore subject to strict German and European quality and regulatory standards, ensuring high process reliability and consistent product quality. If required (e.g., due to customer-specific supply chain requirements), certain processes can be outsourced through our extensive partner network.

How does a custom development project proceed?

The development process typically begins with the signing of a confidentiality or non-disclosure agreement. This is followed by technical coordination between the customer and the development team. After the design phase, tooling is produced and initial prototypes are manufactured. Once validation is successfully completed, serial production can commence.

What are NRE costs?

NRE costs—or non-recurring engineering costs, also known as initial costs—are one-time expenses for the development and manufacture of tooling required to produce custom optical components. At INGENERIC, the cost of refurbishing tooling due to wear is included in the product cost calculation.

Is volume production possible?

INGENERIC covers the entire process chain in-house - from optical design and tool manufacturing to glass molding, backend processes, and quality assurance.

This enables efficient production of both prototypes and high-volume series with consistent quality.

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INGENERIC – Your Partner for Precision Optical Solutions

Do you have suggestions, specific requirements, or a concrete enquiry? We can help you select the right micro-optics for your application—from standard components to customised solutions. Please feel free to contact us for personal advice or an individual quotation.

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