CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

jkruger · Joined: 24 Oct 2007 Posts: 2435 Location: Carlsbad, CA

I can cnc machine the contours of the element to within .0002" of the specified dimensions. Polishing the surface actually removes some of the material (very little) but that can be compensated for in the machining process. I have been making lenses and viewports for the underwater camera industry for decades. Unfortunately I do not have the ability to do AR coatings.

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

So if someone sends you an element you can duplicate an exact copy? and if this company can add the color and AR ten it is doable...but at what cost?

Athanasios

bbfarmht · Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 2:03 am Post subject:

Yeah I might like to have color elements for my 8"lc set.

jkruger · Joined: 24 Oct 2007 Posts: 2435 Location: Carlsbad, CA

The cost depends on the quantity that we can do in each batch. Once the material is purchased and the machine is programmed and set up the cost depends on how many are made. One element might be very expensive but if I make twenty at the same time the cost goes down dramatically. For example, one custom lens for a camera might be $1000. but if we make 30 of them at the same time they could go down to the $100. range.

incova · Joined: 27 Nov 2006 Posts: 789 Location: london

I think you will find you have a lot of buyers from the U.S and UK willing to go for this if it can be done.

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

The cost I am talking about though would be the AR and Color coatings. I have no idea what this would be and there are 100's of companies that could do this...maybe even 3M.

Athanasios

Tom.W · Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 6635

Has anyone contacted VDC about the possibility of a group buy ?

They may be willing to bend their ridicules rules if were talking about several orders...

jkruger · Joined: 24 Oct 2007 Posts: 2435 Location: Carlsbad, CA

I thought the reason we were looking at making them was because 3M stopped selling them to anyone but VDC and VDC won't sell them without a tube attached.

Tom.W · Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 6635

And I thought VDC had taken over the manufacturing and sales of these from 3M ?

jkruger · Joined: 24 Oct 2007 Posts: 2435 Location: Carlsbad, CA

That might be so. I thought we were trying to come up with a viable alternative to buying from them.

Tom.W · Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 6635

It depends on VDC wanting to lose money or make money.

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

I just contacted Thomas Electronics via e-mail as they do the same types of services as VDC... lets see what they have to say.

Athanasios

huggy · Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 5:47 am Post subject:

jkruger · Joined: 24 Oct 2007 Posts: 2435 Location: Carlsbad, CA

I have no need for these for myself yet, I would like to find a source for owners of the 9" barco/runco sets so that they can get these without paying the price of a new tube.

schmoe · Joined: 30 Mar 2008 Posts: 374 Location: Seattle, WA

Hey times are tough and getting tougher. I wouldn't be surprised if VDC bent their own rules to make a few extra bucks. Then again, I haven't been doing this as long as you guys so what do I know. Smile

jkruger · Joined: 24 Oct 2007 Posts: 2435 Location: Carlsbad, CA

We would all like to see them loosen up a little. Thumbs Up

cmjohnson · Joined: 03 Apr 2006 Posts: 5180 Location: Buried under G90s

3M stopped MAKING them. That's the fundamental problem.

CJ

jkruger · Joined: 24 Oct 2007 Posts: 2435 Location: Carlsbad, CA

VDC has to have a supplier. How many do they sell? 10/yr? 500/yr? At $100.00 each, I'll take some of that biz.

David_Web · Joined: 02 May 2007 Posts: 418 Location: Sweden

Why bother with coloring the c-element? Or make new that are.
How about finding a source/making color filters that can be put on like lens covers?
High quality optical grade filters should not be too expensive to find. Or make.
And you don't have to change c-element to make it work.
I don't see any downside by putting it in front of the lens ether. As long as they are AR and IR coated that is.

If i get a chance I can measure the optical properties of filtered HD145 lenses to see exactly what they absorb.

Rosco or Lee might even be able to do it.

Gerbrand · Joined: 13 May 2008 Posts: 199