We are Specialists with high sensitivity.
When it comes to precision, we do not leave anything to chance. Leyla Kaplan, Präzisionsoptik

OUR OPTICAL SYSTEMS AT A GLANCE

Optics with System – Systems with Optics.

Design

Customer specific opto-mechanical
and opto-mechatronic components

Our strengths lie in the development and construction of optomechatronic systems - from the feasibility study on the prototype to-fit system integration. The earlier we are involved in your development process, the more we can do for you. Our experience shows us that especially innovative systems and product ideas benefit from a close partnership. This is what we stand for.

In addition, we offer our customers service performance measures and technological support, when it comes to ensuring the quality of their products or production facilities. We measure and test according to your specifications. We make sure that you do everything right - from optical design to imaging.

Systems

OPTIC WITH SYSTEM – SYSTEMS WITH OPTIC

Under this term we understand the systematic method of procedure in finding solutions to optical problems and in manufacturing optical and mechanical parts to systems with optics.

The basis of our system manufacturing is formed by our production ranges Optics, Mechanics with Assembly, and Coating.

We offer you:

Design, development and construction of precision mechanical-optical systems
Handling of projects in close and confidential cooperation
Manufacturing of optics and coating, mechanical production and assembly at one site
Quality checking according to given specifications

The performance of our precision optics would not be perfect without precise assembly of each sub-assembly. This applies to the exact alignment of the lens systems in the mechanical mount with the lowest tolerances just as much as to the cementing and joining of components.

At our assembly and inspection stations, some opto-mechanical sub-assemblies are put together by hand, others semi-automatically. Depending on the application field, optical components are joined to metallic and synthetic materials. The parts are assembled to the most stringent cleanliness criteria in our dust-free cleanroom. A final detailed inspection ensures the quality of the assembled products before they leave the factory.

Coatings

Our Coatings protect and filter,
reflect or enhance transparency.
In short: They do what we want.

Coating substrates is one of our core competences.
We have been coating precision optic components with optically effective layers ever since 1948. Over the years, technical specifications and possibilities have radically changed.
We now have several high-vacuum plants, an ultrasound cleaning and drying plant at our disposal to treat the substrates. We also build our own equipment e.g. for asymmetrical prisms. Coated substrates are inspected and documented with a "Lambda 900" PE spectral photometer.

Anti-reflection coatings

Reflection-reducing coatings increase the light transmission of optical systems. This is particularly important for the light intensity of multilens optical systems such as objectives. Another benefit of anti-reflection coatings is their capability to strongly reduce scattered light losses between the lenses. Our product portfolio covers single- and multiplelayer anti-reflection coatings, anti-reflection coatings for laser applications and coatings for applications in ultraviolet (UV), visual (VIS) and infra-red (IR).

Metallic reflection coatings

Metallic reflection coatings enhance reflection and are used in many optical instruments for light deflection. We coat glass, metal and plastic. The choice of coating material depends on the reflection requirements in the defined wavelength range. We use aluminium, gold, silver and chrome-nickel, either with or without protection coating for the VIS, UV and IR ranges.

Metallic splitter coatings

Metallic thin-film systems are vaporized onto substrates to attain specific reflection and transmission values. Depending on the type of metal and the thickness of the layer, metallic splitter coatings are able to separate customer-specific wavelength areas.

Dielectric reflection coatings

Compared with conventional metallic reflection coatings, the advantages of dielectric reflection coatings are their climate resistance, mechanical stability and high reflection combined with relatively low absorption. These properties are crucially important for many optical applications involving extreme thermal and mechanical stress.

Dielectric splitter coatings

Unlike metallic splitter coatings, dielectric splitter coatings enable absorption-free light conditions. Dielectric splitter coatings are used in various filters and particularly in laser technology and reference metrology.

Beamsplitters and filter coatings

The deflection and separation of light beams in different intensities, directions or wavelength ranges can also be controlled by thin-film vaporization. Either a metallic or a dielectric coating is chosen, depending on requirements and application. The above-mentioned advantages of dielectric reflection coatings play a decisive role here, too.

Telescope mirror coatings

Befort Wetzlar is mentioned and recommended in the relevant Internet forums as a coater of telescope mirrors. We serve customers in astronomy, natural sciences and technology, supporting users with our technical know-how. After all, you can't enjoy the best possible view of the universe without maximum reflectivity and robust mirrors.


Precision optics

No lens element leaves our factory before it meets the exact
specifications and requirements of the customer!

Spherical Optics

At Befort, spherical precision optics pass through the hands of qualified specialists. They work with a sure instinct and state-of-the-art technology. The machine processing of each surface is done on CNC grinding and polishing machines.

We produce:

  • spherical precision lenses from optical glass, quartz glass and radiation-resistant materials
  • individual lens elements
  • achromatic systems
  • concave mirrors
  • cylinder lenses
  • and other precisely fitting glass geometries to suit your specific application with diameters from 3 mm to 150 mm and a curvature radius from 1.18 mm to plane

No lens element leaves our factory before it meets the exact specifications and requirements of the customer!

Plane optics

Finest quality surface polishing is vital in plane optic production. At Befort, this has top priority - from production all the way to final inspection. Thanks to sophisticated CNC technology, we are able to produce single plane-optic components as well as multifunctional systems.

We process:

  • optical glass
  • filter glass
  • quartz glass and float glass up to a size of 600 mm diameter.

We make:

  • filters
  • ground-glass screens
  • plane mirrors
  • windows with a plane parallel surface contour and realize customized solutions for specific applications

In our test laboratory we measure machined surfaces with an interferometer to be able to guarantee top optical quality!

Fine mechanics

Precision manufacturing

Optics are rarely standalone components. They frequently need a casing, a carrier or even complex integration into a system. This is the exact specialty of our Mechanical Engineering department. We put our mechanical production skills in the service of opto-mechanical and even purely mechanical customer applications.

We manufacture non-ferrous metal, non-corroding machining-grade steel and plastic components and produce high-precision mechanical sub-assemblies as well as un-mounted turned and milled parts in small and medium quantities.

  • CNC-manufacturing of turning and milled parts
  • CNC-manufacturing with driven tools
  • CNC-Milling machine with 3- and 5-axis
    also in single and small series production
  • Prototypes
    (max. turning diameter up to 60 mm and milled parts 500 x 400 x 100 mm)

STANDARD PRODUCTS

Everything we make is above-standard.
Even our standard products.

Standard Objectives

Our product range comprises objectives with focal lengths from 5 - 60 mm. Our objectives are all coated with a reflection-reducing coating and are computed and optimized for the intended application. Of course, we also design and compute customized objectives and systems to meet your special requirements.

Info - ObjectivesPDF, 108 kb

Standard achromatic systems

Achromatic systems consist of two single lenses of different refraction that are cemented together. This avoids the inherent achromatic aberrations of single lenses that lead to blurred or distorted images. We produce these high-quality optics with diameters of 10 - 50 mm and focal lengths of 20 - 250 mm. We supply black anodized aluminium mounts with all achromatic systems on request.

Info - Achromatic systemsPDF, 108 kb

Measuring microscopes

Our measuring microscopes accommodate high-quality optics in a robust light-metal body. They are universally applicable, e.g. for testing hardness, evaluating Brinell and Vickers hardness, in graphics or for non-contact measurement of small parts and small distances. Our 20x/7 mm, 30x/5 mm, 40x/4 mm, 60x/2 mm and 100x/1 mm measuring microscopes feature battery-operated LED illumination as standard.

Info - Measuring
microscopes
PDF, 92 kb

Measuring magnifiers

The 6-, 8- and 10-fold Befort magnifiers have been THE magnifiers for precise reading for 30 years. All measuring magnifiers have metal engraved scales. The measuring plates are manufactured and surface-treated individually using a special process. This time-consuming precise manufacturing guarantees parallax-free reading when the magnifier is directly positioned on the object to be measured.

Info - Measuring magnifiersPDF, 91 kb