Penta Prism

Penta Prism

Penta prism redirects the line of sight or input beam by a precise 90° angle without inverting or reversing the image, making it ideal for applications that demand exact 90° deviation without requiring precisely oriented prisms.We can supply high dimension and angle control penta prism. The coating or painting is designed by customer according to it is detailed application.

What Are Optical Prisms?

Optical prisms are transparent components typically made from glass or plastic, designed to refract, reflect, or disperse light. They are commonly triangular in geometry, featuring two parallel flat surfaces and a third surface angled relative to the others.

When light enters a prism, it bends—a process known as refraction. This bending causes the light to spread into its component wavelengths, an effect known as dispersion. This principle is widely used in instruments like spectrometers and cameras to separate and analyze light.

Prisms can also serve as reflective elements. In applications such as binoculars or periscopes, prisms are often coated with reflective materials like aluminum or silver, enabling them to redirect light efficiently without the need for mirrors.

Available in various shapes and sizes, optical prisms are essential tools across a range of fields, including scientific research, photography, imaging systems, and laser technology.

Features

90° Precision Beam Deflection

In imaging applications, penta prisms do not invert or reverse the image. These prisms deflect the beam by the same angle regardless of their orientation relative to the beam. Penta prisms are valuable in applications that require an exact 90° deflection without the need for precise orientation of the prism.

Aluminum Coated Reflective Surfaces

The geometry of these prisms requires coatings on the reflective surfaces. The reflective surfaces of the penta prisms are coated with a protective black aluminum layer. The entrance and exit surfaces are uncoated.

Applications

Imaging Systems: Pentaprisms are commonly used in imaging systems such as cameras and telescopes to redirect light paths and ensure that the image orientation is correct. They are particularly useful in applications that require a compact design, such as telephoto lenses.

Alignment and Inspection: Pentaprisms are commonly used in alignment and inspection systems, such as laser alignment systems and machine vision systems. They can be used to align or position optical components, as well as inspect surfaces for defects or irregularities.

Measurement and Metrology: Pentaprisms are used in measurement and metrology applications, such as optical levels and precision alignment systems. They can be used to reflect and rotate light paths in a precise and controlled manner, allowing for accurate measurement of distances and angles.

Aerospace and Defense: Pentaprisms are used in a variety of aerospace and defense applications, such as targeting systems, missile guidance systems, and night vision systems. They can be used to redirect and rotate light in a compact and rugged design, making them ideal for use in harsh environments.

Spectroscopy: Pentaprisms are used in spectroscopy applications, such as Fourier transform spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy, to ensure that the light path is properly aligned and rotated. They are particularly useful for applications that require high spectral resolution.

Optical Communications: Pentaprisms are used in optical communications applications such as fiber-optic communication systems and optical networking equipment. They can be used to redirect and rotate optical signals in a precise and controlled manner, enabling efficient transmission and reception of optical signals.

Product parameter

Penta Prism Manufacturing

We follow a step-by-step process and conduct rigorous quality checks throughout the process. 

Optical Design: Work with our engineers to validate your print or rely on our expertise to get your design just right. We'll recommend the right optical material and send it off to production.

Crown and flint fabrication: we'll use materials with lower dispersion for convex crowns and higher dispersion materials for concave flints.  

Optical alignment and assembly: After the optical and mechanical axes have been accurately aligned, the lenses are bonded together using specialised refractive index optical adhesives. UV-cured optical adhesive is then used.

Centring: After assembly, some doublet lenses are centred to their final diameter, while others are pre-centred before gluing. After assembly, the bimodal lenses can also be darkened to reduce scattering, which is useful in some optical applications. 

Tests and Measurements: Interferometry, surface roughness, radius of curvature, aberration, etc.