Handling of optics

Optics has a limited life span and degradation starts from the moment the package is opened.
Scratches, dirt or dust will accumulate on its surface after lengthy usage and will cause light to scatter or diffract and with the high possibility of poor optical performance.
The durability of optics will change depending on the purpose of experiment and usage environment, but generally they can be used for two to three years.

Handling

Handling of optics requires good care and understanding to prevent surface scratches or dirt. Importantly,
do not touch the polished surface.
Lightly hold the ground surface or its edge.
When handling optics, it is good practice to use finger sacks.
When fixing an optic in a holder, do not tighten the optic retaining screw too hard unless for special occasions such as transportation.
Tightening the screw too hard may break the optic or significantly deteriorate the performance of the optic.
Lightly tighten the screw so that the optic does not move.
If the optic retaining screw might get loose due to vibration or the like, we recommend adhering the optic to the holder,
or fastening the screw with screw locking glue.

Cleaning

Should an optical component get dusty or dirty, first check if the condition permits cleaning.
Cleaning optics with paper on Gold and Aluminium coating without protective coating is not recommended as it will cause scratches.
As for Dielectric multi-layer coating with protective coating, it is possible but we recommend cleaning to its minimum to avoid risk of scratches.
When wiping optics, always remove them from the holder for effective cleaning.
Wiping an optic in a holder is very difficult and requires experience.

How to Wipe Optics

(1) Prepare several lens papers, alcohol (ethanol, methanol, etc.), finger sacks (powder-free type if available), and air blower.
(2) Put finger sacks on the fingers of both hands, and wipe off dirt from the finger sacks using paper moistened with alcohol. Then, fold a lens paper into a strip of 3 to 4cm width.
(3) With the non-dominant hand, hold the edge of the optic as shown in the picture.
(4) Moisten the folded lens paper lightly with alcohol, and fold it so that it tucks into the faces of the optic.
(5) Hold the center of the optic with the lens paper, and rotate the optic using the fingers of the non-dominant hand.
(6) Gradually move the lens paper from the center of the optic toward the edge, and when it reaches the edge, slowly relax the fingers holding the paper, and remove the paper from the optic.
(7) Hold the surface of the optic against the light to check cleanliness. Use the air blower to blow off fine dust on the surface of the optic.
(8) If there is still dirt or traces of wiping, change the lens paper, and wipe the optic again with the same procedure. After finished wiping (change to) Upon finishing the wiping process, keep in a powder paper or special plastic case.

The art of wiping optics is to do it lightly with constant pressure. Lens Paper (SLP-2) / Air Blower (DOP)

Storing Method

Optics are very stable in our general environment, but if kept in a location with high temperature and humidity for long periods, its surface may get cloudy and mold may also develop on the optics if left unattended. When optics is not being used, keep them in a dry container.
For storage of large optics and optical devices, use a Dry-Cabi®.
Ensure the power is on for optimum performance.
In addition, when storing an optic just purchased, we recommend storing it after taking it out from the package.

Handling of Silica Gel

Check the color of silica gel periodically, and when the color becomes reddish, replace with new silica gel. Use of a transparent lunch box is convenient because you can check the color of silica gel without opening the cover. You can reuse the reddish silica gel if you dry it in an oven. If dust is on the surface of an optic and you irradiate the surface with a strong laser, the dust will burn and the stain caused might not be removed from the optic surface. For this reason, we recommend the use of a cover to prevent dust from adhering on optical systems when they are not used. Just before using an optical system, we also recommend that you remove dust from optics using an air blower or by cleaning.