Custom Optical Prisms for Precision Optical Systems
Shanghai Optics designs and manufactures custom optical prisms for beam deviation, image rotation, beam steering, light dispersion and other precision optical functions. Our capabilities include right angle prisms, dove prisms, penta prisms, Amici prisms, corner cube prisms, micro prisms and custom cemented prism assemblies for imaging, laser, aerospace, medical and OEM optical systems.
Prism geometry, material, dimensions, angular tolerances and optical coatings can be customized around system requirements. Shanghai Optics supports projects from engineering review and prototype development through precision manufacturing, inspection and repeat OEM production.
Need a Custom Optical Prism?
Send us your prism geometry, material, dimensions, angular tolerances, coating requirements and quantity for engineering review.
Custom Optical Prism Engineering & Manufacturing Capabilities
Shanghai Optics manufactures precision optical prisms around application-specific optical, dimensional and mechanical requirements. Custom capabilities include:
- Prism geometries: right angle, dove, penta, half-penta, amici, corner cube, micro, polygon and custom prism designs
- Materials: BK7 and other optical glasses, fused silica, sapphire, CaF₂, silicon, germanium and ZnSe
- Precision requirements: custom angular, dimensional, surface-quality and wavefront specifications
- Optical coatings: anti-reflection, reflective, beamsplitter and application-specific coatings
- Assemblies: cemented prism and multi-element configurations
- Production: prototype development through repeat OEM manufacturing
- Engineering support: material selection, coating review, manufacturability assessment and specification support
Optical Materials & Coatings
Prism material selection should be based on the operating wavelength, refractive index, dispersion, environmental requirements, optical performance and manufacturing constraints of the system.
Shanghai Optics supports prism manufacturing in materials including BK7 and other optical glasses, fused silica, sapphire, CaF₂, silicon, germanium and ZnSe, depending on the application and spectral requirements.
In-house coating capabilities include anti-reflection coatings, reflective coatings, beamsplitter coatings and application-specific optical coatings. Coating requirements can be evaluated together with substrate material, wavelength range, angle of incidence and system performance requirements.
Available Optical Prism Configurations
Shanghai Optics offers a broad range of precision and custom optical prisms, with geometry, material, dimensions, tolerances and coatings tailored to system requirements.
| Prism Type | Typical Optical Function | Customization Options |
| Right Angle Prism | 90° beam deviation and reflection | Material, dimensions, surface quality, coatings |
| Dove Prism | Image rotation | Aperture, dimensions, material, coatings |
| Penta Prism | Fixed beam deviation | Angular accuracy, surface quality, dimensions, coatings |
| Half-Penta Prism | Beam steering | Dimensions, material, coatings |
| Amici Prism | Image orientation/inversion | Dimensions, material, surface requirements, coatings |
| Corner Cube Prism | Retroreflection | Material, aperture, dimensions, coatings |
| Micro Prism | Compact beam steering and optical integration | Micro dimensions, geometry, material, coatings |
| Custom Cemented Prism | Multi-surface or compound optical functions | Geometry, materials, cementing, coatings |
Need a prism geometry or specification not shown above? Shanghai Optics can evaluate custom prism designs based on your optical and mechanical requirements.
Optical Prism Design & Specification Considerations
Custom prism performance depends on the relationship between prism geometry, material, angular accuracy, surface quality, wavefront requirements, coating performance and mechanical integration.
For beam-deviation and steering applications, angular tolerances and surface orientation can directly affect output beam direction and system alignment. For imaging applications, transmitted wavefront, surface quality and prism geometry may become critical to maintaining image quality.
Material and coating selection should also be evaluated together with the operating wavelength, angle of incidence, polarization requirements and environmental conditions.
Shanghai Optics can review existing optical drawings or system-level requirements to determine appropriate manufacturing tolerances and identify potential manufacturability considerations before prototype production.
Specifying a Custom Optical Prism
For engineering review and quotation, provide the available optical, dimensional and mechanical requirements for your prism, including:
- Prism type or geometry
- Overall dimensions and clear aperture
- Optical material
- Angular tolerances
- Surface flatness or transmitted wavefront requirements
- Surface quality
- Operating wavelength or spectral range
- Optical coating requirements
- Angle of incidence, where relevant
- Dimensional and mechanical tolerances
- Environmental requirements
- Prototype and production quantities
Existing optical drawings, CAD files and system requirements can also be submitted for manufacturability review.
Submit Your Prism Specifications →
Precision Prism Manufacturing & Quality Control
Shanghai Optics manufactures optical prisms using ISO 9001-certified processes, with inspection requirements defined according to the optical drawing, prism geometry and application.
Depending on the project requirements, prism inspection can include:
- Surface quality
- Surface flatness
- Angular accuracy
- Dimensional inspection
- Transmitted wavefront
- Coating performance
- Assembly and alignment verification for cemented configurations
Inspection criteria and achievable tolerances can be reviewed during the engineering and quotation process to ensure that critical specifications are aligned with manufacturing capability.
Prototype & Production Lead Times
Shanghai Optics supports both custom prism prototyping and repeat OEM production.
Lead times depend on factors including material availability, prism geometry, dimensional and angular tolerances, coating requirements, inspection requirements and production quantity.
For new custom prism projects, our engineering team can review manufacturability and production requirements during quotation and provide a project-specific lead-time estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions
For an engineering review, provide the prism geometry, material, dimensions, clear aperture, angular tolerances, surface quality, surface flatness or wavefront requirements, wavelength range, optical coating and quantity. Existing optical drawings, CAD files and system-level requirements can also be submitted for review.
Angular tolerance should be determined from the required beam-deviation accuracy, alignment sensitivity and system error budget. The required tolerance can vary significantly by prism geometry and application, so critical angular relationships should be identified on the optical drawing rather than applying the same tolerance to every surface.
Imaging applications may require control of surface quality, surface flatness, transmitted wavefront and angular accuracy in addition to dimensional tolerances. The relative importance of each specification depends on the prism location within the optical system and its effect on image quality and alignment.
Material selection depends on the operating wavelength, refractive index, dispersion, transmission requirements, environmental conditions and manufacturing constraints. Shanghai Optics can manufacture prisms in optical glass, fused silica and specialty materials such as sapphire, CaF₂, silicon, germanium and ZnSe where appropriate.
Yes. Custom prism materials and coatings can be selected around the required spectral range. Fused silica and CaF₂ can be evaluated for applicable UV requirements, while materials such as silicon, germanium and ZnSe are available for applicable infrared systems. Final material selection should be based on the complete spectral, optical and environmental requirements.
Yes. Shanghai Optics supports anti-reflection, reflective, beamsplitter and application-specific optical coatings. Coating design should account for the substrate material, wavelength range, angle of incidence, polarization and required reflection or transmission performance.
Yes. Custom cemented prism assemblies can be developed where multiple optical elements are required within a single configuration. Material compatibility, cement selection, alignment, coating requirements and environmental conditions should be evaluated as part of the assembly design.
Yes. Shanghai Optics supports projects from engineering review and prototype manufacturing through inspection and repeat OEM production. Prototype builds can be used to validate optical performance, dimensional requirements, assembly considerations and manufacturability before transitioning to production quantities.
Manufacturability depends on the combined requirements for geometry, material, prism dimensions, angular tolerances, surface quality, surface flatness or wavefront, coatings and production quantity. Providing a complete drawing or system specification allows the engineering team to identify manufacturing constraints and tolerance trade-offs before production.
Engineering Resources
Looking for additional technical information on prism selection, applications and optical design?Learn More About Different Types of Optical Prisms →
Explore Optical Prism Applications and Design Considerations →
Need Custom Optical Prisms for Your Optical System?
Developing a custom prism for an imaging, laser, aerospace, medical or OEM optical system? Send Shanghai Optics your prism geometry, material, dimensions, angular tolerances, wavelength, coating requirements and production quantity for engineering and manufacturability review.Shanghai Optics manufactures right angle prisms, dove prisms, penta prisms, Amici prisms and custom optical prisms for imaging, laser, medical and OEM applications.Contact Us Today
Need help?
We offer consultations and initial feasibility studies. If you have questions about limitations or lens capabilities we’re more than happy to work through your proposed custom components. As an unmatched custom optical provider, we’ll do everything that we can bring your vision to life.
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