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Plastic materials may crack under the prolonged exposure to a UV light source… But not Knight Optical’s Dichroic Hot Mirrors! Knight Optical can supply you with high quality and cost effective Dichroic Hot Mirrors for use in optical systems where unwanted UV or IR light negatively impacts on the system quality. This includes UV and IR Sensitive Systems, medical illumination and display fibre optics. Prolonged exposure to UV light can cause degradation in plastic materials resulting in cracking and, eventually, mechanical failure. Exposure to IR can cause undesired thermal energy and heat into the system that can damage delicate components. Dichroic hot mirrors solve this issue by reflecting UV and IR light away from the component, meaning cost We hold a massive inventory of Bandpass, Long pass, Short pass, Band-blocking and Colour-correction filters. For more information Read the PDF...

Knight Optical can offer Z-Cut Quartz Windows for use in the security industry. We supply a range of Z-Cut Quartz windows for a range of applications – all individually QA checked and metrology tested for quality to ensure parts meet customers’ specifications. What’s more, our Z-Cut Quartz Windows are supplied in a range of sizes & shapes with custom coatings tailored to meet your individual applications. We supply precision optical components to customers within the security industry. Z-Cut Quartz windows can be used in the terahertz region for non-invasive scanning of individuals. These types of scans can detect objects such as weapons & are used in airports and other high-security locations. Quartz is a birefringent material, which affects the polarisation of light passing through it, and is cut specifically along the Z-axis to maintain polarisation. Z-Cut Quartz is used in applications where quartz is an ideal material; yet changes to polarisation are required Read PDF for more...

Sapphire is an incredibly hard crystal (HK1370kg/mm2), second only to diamond. Fluoresence free sapphire windows have high mechanical strength, thermal and chemical resistance and is scratch resistant, making it very desirable for operating in harsh conditions. Sapphire windows can be made thinner than alternative crystals thanks to its structural integrity and can operate up to 2030⁰C. The material transmits between the UV and IR at 0.15-5.5µm, and has a high refractive index of 1.75.. Knight Optical supply a range of quality Sapphire optical components including Fluoresence free sapphire windows, Sapphire lenses, Sapphire prisms, and Sapphire blanks either from stock or bespoke custom made to your specification for a range of applications.  Our current range includes Random Polarization Sapphire that can be used for most applications apart from UV use. Click link URL to read more …

Knight Optical can offer you Plane Mirrors (general, λ/1 and λ/4), for use within Fibre Optic Applications in a range of materials such as Soda-lime float glass, white float glass, and BK7 glass. Our plane mirrors are used within fibre optic applications such as testing the fibre optic signal to help understand the strength of the signal. Plane mirrors also known as front surface mirrors or first surface mirrors are used widely within Fibre Optic applications. As stock we hold many general purpose, λ/1 and λ/4 with a range of up to 6 types of coatings such as Enhanced Aluminium, Ali/SiO2 and Ali/Mgf2. Our general purpose grade mirrors are made from good quality float glass and generally available in thicknesses of 1mm, 3mm and 6mm as standard. READ PDF FOR MORE INFORMATION

Sapphire is an incredibly hard crystal (HK1370kg/mm2), second only to diamond. Fluoresence free sapphire windows have high mechanical strength, thermal and chemical resistance and is scratch resistant, making it very desirable for operating in harsh conditions. Sapphire windows can be made thinner than alternative crystals thanks to its structural integrity and can operate up to 2030⁰C. The material transmits between the UV and IR at 0.15-5.5µm, and has a high refractive index of 1.75.. Knight Optical supply a range of quality Sapphire optical components including Fluoresence free sapphire windows, Sapphire lenses, Sapphire prisms, and Sapphire blanks either from stock or bespoke custom made to your specification for a range of applications.  Our current range includes Random Polarization Sapphire that can be used for most applications apart from UV use. Click link URL to read more …

Knight Optical can offer Ground Glass Diffusers for use within Photography. We supply a range of Ground Glass Diffusers for a range of applications. All individually QA checked and metrology tested for quality to ensure parts meet customer specification. Supplied in a range of sizes and shapes with custom coatings tailored to meet your individual applications. Knight Optical supply precision optical components to customers within photography. Ground Glass Diffusers are used in to diffuse the flash from cameras to prevent photos with harsh light and hard shadows to soften and improve the appeal of the image. Diffusers are also used in lightning systems to prevent glare from computer screens, the manufacture of lightboxes for advertising, viewing x-rays, and other applications. For more information read PDF…

Knight Optical can offer Toroidal Mirrors for use within Optical Systems. We supply a range of Toroidal Mirrors for a range of applications. All individually QA checked and metrology tested for quality to ensure parts meet customer specification. Supplied in a range of sizes and shapes with custom coatings tailored to meet your individual applications. Knight Optical supply precision optical components to customers with Optical Systems. Our Toroidal Mirrors are designed to minimise astigmatism when used in off-axis geometry. They are easier to manufacture than parabolic or ellipsoidal mirrors and therefore can be made much cheap with the same quality. Toroidal mirrors are used for correction of aberration in a range of scientific instrument applications such as spectroscopes monochromators and imaging devices. For more details read PDF…

This month, Knight Optical is excited to unveil a brand-new range of Fluorescence Filter Sets. As its first product launch of the year, the announcement comes as welcome news to those working on fluorescence imaging applications, who demand premium-quality, ultra-precision Filter Sets for high-efficiency transmission. The launch follows the business’ 30th anniversary, which the global optics supplier celebrated last year, and demonstrates its dedication in continually evolving the growth of its already-comprehensive portfolio of cutting-edge, custom-made, and stock optical components. Here, the trusted brand discusses its new product offering and runs through the indispensable technicalities behind the sets.Filters and Sets to Meet Every Application’s Needs As a set of optics that are typically used for fluorescence applications within fields such as biology, materials science, chemistry, medical diagnostics, and mineralogy; for example,

Here at Knight Optical, we understand that there is no one size fits all for your optical component specifications. That is why – as well as edging down our stock optics – we also offer our entire range as custom-made components. This bespoke option is popular across a variety of sectors such as defence and aerospace, medical and research as well as engineering and manufacturing industries; to name a few. By opting for our customised service, not only will you be able to choose the material, millimetre-perfect dimensions and thicknesses best suited to your application, but you will also be able to pick appropriate optical coatings to protect or enhance your device's operability. If you would like to discuss your optical requirements with a member of our team or to find out more about our custom-made optics, please get in touch on +44 (0)1622 859444, choose option One. Alternatively, click here to view our full range of custom-made optics.

Knight Optical can offer Gas Cells for use within the Chemical Analysis. We supply a range of Gas Cells for a range of applications. All individually QA checked and metrology tested for quality to ensure parts meet customer specification. Supplied in a range of sizes and shapes with custom coatings tailored to meet your individual applications. Knight Optical supply precision optical components to customers within the chemical analysis industry. Gas cells are used in spectroscopy for identification of the contents of gases. The path length and window material are chosen for analysis of different concentrations and types of gas. Depending on the types of gases being analysed, the windows in a gas cell can be made from NaCl, KBr, CaF2, BaF2, or ZnSe and will be chosen depending on bandwidth, to meet the customer’s application. All our Gas Cells are fully inspected on their quality in our ISO 9001 certified, state-of-the-art Metrology laboratory

Knight Optical can offer Planoconvex Lenses for use within Optical Systems. We supply a range of Planoconvex lenses for a range of applications. All individually QA checked and metrology tested for quality to ensure parts meet customer specification. Supplied in a range of sizes and shapes with custom coatings tailored to meet your individual applications. Knight Optical supply precision optical components to customers with Optical systems. Planoconvex lenses are simple lenses with a plane surface and a convex surface and form a moderate quality image close to the axis. They are generally used as elements within a more complex lens system or optical instrument in imaging systems, collimation, lasers and detectors. For more information read the PDF…

Knight Optical can offer Amici Roof Prisms for use within Imaging Industry. We supply a range of Amici Roof Prisms for a range of applications. All individually QA checked and metrology tested for quality to ensure parts meet customer specification. Supplied in a range of sizes and shapes with custom coatings tailored to meet your individual applications. Knight Optical supply precision optical components to customers within Imaging Industry. Amici Roof Prisms are often used in the development of telescope eyepieces and endoscopes, where they revert and invert the image while redirecting the beam by 90 degrees. For more information read PDF …

Knight Optical can offer Planoconcave Lenses for use within Optical Systems. We supply a range of Planoconcave lenses for a range of applications. All individually QA checked and metrology tested for quality to ensure parts meet customer specification. Supplied in a range of sizes and shapes with custom coatings tailored to meet your individual applications. Knight Optical supply precision optical components to customers with Optical systems. Planoconcave lenses are simple lenses with a plane surface and a concave surface and form a moderate quality image close to the axis. Concave lenses have a broad range of applications including, focussing and control of laser beams, moderate quality imaging and other optical instruments. In a multi-element optical system they reduce the power of the system. Used on their own they form a diverging cone or virtual image. A typical use for concave lenses would be in a beam expander. For more information read the PDF ….

We supply a range of Visible Sheet Polariser for a range of applications. All individually QA checked and metrology tested for quality to ensure parts meet customer specification. Supplied in a range of sizes and shapes with custom coatings tailored to meet your individual applications. Knight Optical supply precision optical components to customers within Consumer Electronics. Our Linear Polarisers linearly polarise unpolarised light and can block light that is polarised in the opposite direction. Linear Polarisers are often used in the production of LCD monitor and TVs. The liquid crystals act like a wave-plate, rotating the polarisation axis allowing them to control the amount of light from each pixel. They are used in a similar way for a photographer to prevent surface reflections from water. Our polariser sheets allow different levels of total light from a randomly Read PDF for more information...

We supply a range of Wedge Prisms for a range of applications. All individually QA checked, and metrology tested for quality to ensure parts meet customer specification. Supplied in a range of sizes and shapes with custom coatings tailored to meet your individual applications. Knight Optical supply precision optical components to customers within Forestry. Wedge Prisms are used in a similar manner to an angle gauge, when plotting the basal area of a group of trees. Wedge prisms are also used in beam steering. All our Wedge Prism are fully inspected on their quality in our ISO 9001 certified, state-of-the-art Metrology laboratory, using our Starrett AV300 Video Imaging System and our Trioptics PrismMaster. This allows us to work to the highest QA standards and meet the tolerance specifications on these precision components. Read PDF for more...

Knight Optical can offer KG1 Filters for use in Heat Sensitive Systems. We supply a range of KG1 Filters for a range of applications. All individually QA checked and metrology tested for quality to ensure parts meet customer specification. Supplied in a range of sizes and shapes with custom coatings tailored to meet your individual applications. Knight Optical supply precision optical components to customers in Heat Sensitive Systems. KG1 Filters are designed to transmit visible wavelengths to absorb heat causing infrared wavelengths preventing it from reaching your system. Care has to be taken in the design of systems using KG1 as the material is an absorptive blocker and will heat up with use. To help alleviate the heating issue, our KG1 filters are thermally toughened For more information read PDF …..

Optical flats are single precision flat surfaces. They are used as reference surfaces to compare flatness of a substrate where flatness is unknown. When a high quality optical flat is placed on top of a polished substrate and used in conjunction with a monochromatic light source light bands are formed. The light bands that are present are known as interference fringes and their shape represents how flat the part being tested measures. Dependent on how many rings are formed or how straight the presented lines are is an indication of how flat the tested part is. Optical flats are used for testing gauge blocks. Optical flats are also used in interferometers and high quality flat optical mirror and window sub-straights for laser applications. This range of quartz optical flats are single-sided. Quartz has low thermal expansion properties and is very durable and cost effective solution over UV grade fused silica. Read PDFs for more information

Medical Sensors are used for the detection of enzymes, proteins, blood, bacteria & other substances inside the human body so that the correct treatment can be administered should abnormalities occur. These sensors use a number of different Interference Bandpass Filters of different wavelengths dependent on what needs to be detected. With our wide range of stock filters, Knight Optical provide wavelengths from the UV at 214nm for detection of bloods into IR wavelengths of 2000nm for the detection radiation or gases. These interference filters are also available for full customisation to your specific requirement. They are mounted in an aluminium ring making it easier for integration, we can also provide filter wheels to ensure quick changing within the instrument.

Our ranges of light guides are available in a variety of materials Currently we offer BK7 or equivalent, Sapphire or equivalent and UV Fused Silica light guides, in an assortment of diameters and thicknesses. Light guides serve as the key element in cosmetic laser, or intense pulsed light (IPL) applications. IPL is commonly used for the removal of unwanted hair, as well as a range of other cosmetic applications. IPL applications make use of a variety of wavebands to target different chromophores. For this reason, our custom light guides are available in a choice of materials to suit your waveband requirement. Knight Optical’s custom BK7 or equiv light guides offer high internal reflection to minimize the loss of transmitted light. BK7 or equiv can offer over 90% transmission between 330 and 2000nm, which makes this material an excellent choice for IPL applications used to treat pigmentation Continue to read thePDF

Knight Optical can offer custom Rod Lenses for use within Optical Systems. We supply a range of custom & stock Rod lenses for a range of applications. All individually QA checked and metrology tested for quality to ensure parts meet customer specification. Supplied in a range of sizes and shapes with custom coatings tailored to meet your individual applications. Knight Optical supply precision optical components to customers with Optical systems. Rod Lenses are a special variant of cylindrical lenses so they focus light to a line. Rod lenses have an outside face that is polished and the ends are ground. Typical uses for rod lenses would be to generate a line image from a circular laser beam. Rod lenses can be cut at 45 degrees for use in beam steering and other similar applications. For more information read PDF …..

Knight Optical can offer UV Fused Silica Windows for Vacuum Applications. UV Fused Silica is a relatively hard optical glass with a very low coefficient of thermal expansion. This means that it is a good choice for us in Vacuum applications, as any difference in temperature will not affect the optical performance. In addition to the above, UV FS has high transmission from UV to NIR meaning that there is little loss of image when it is used for a Vacuum Window/viewport and therefore the quality of the optical system is not compromised. All our UV Fused Silica Lenses are fully inspected on their quality in our ISO 9001 certified, state-of-the-art Metrology laboratory, using our Trioptics Optispheric, and Starrett AV300 and Zygo Verifire XPZ. This allows us to work to the highest QA standards and meet the tolerance specifications on these precision components Read PDF for more info

Knight Optical can offer UV Fused Silica Lenses for Flame Detection Applications. UV Fused Silica can be used in Flame Detection Applications, due to its high transmission into the NIR range (approximately <92% avg 400-2000nm) meaning that a clear distinction can be made between different wavelengths of light. UV FS also has a very low coefficient of thermal expansion 0.55x10-6K-1 at 300K) compared to N-BK7 (7.1x10-6K-1), meaning that it can still provide optical performance under high temperature. UV FS also has a high melting point compared to N-BK7, providing further protection for your application in high temperature environments. UV FS is comparable to N-BK7 or other similar optical glasses in its performance, having a very similar average transmission over the VIS range up to approximately 2000nm and a slightly lower refractive index. The Abbe constants of UV FS are also very similar to that of N-BK7, although slightly higher. Read PDF for more info

KO can offer Metallic Neutral Density Filters for use in Photographic Applications. We supply a range of Metallic Neutral Density (ND) Filters for a variety of applications – all individually QA checked and metrology tested for quality to ensure parts meet customers’ specifications. What’s more, our Metallic ND Filters are supplied in a range of sizes and shapes with custom coatings tailored to meet your individual applications. Our Metallic ND Filters reflect (with a metallic coating) light neutrally over a wavelength range (typically visual). They can be used to lower the intensity of light prior to the image plane. These are often used in photography, allowing photographers more flexibility with their setups to achieve desired effects. Often, an ND filter will be used in conjunction with a long exposure to prevent washed-out and overexposed images. They can also be used to add motion blur, reduce depth of field and to use a wider aperture. For more information read PDF…

Knight Optical can offer Meniscus Lenses for use within Optical Systems. We supply a range of Meniscus lenses for a range of applications. All individually QA checked and metrology tested for quality to ensure parts meet customer specification. Supplied in a range of sizes and shapes with custom coatings tailored to meet your individual applications. Knight Optical supply precision optical components to customers with Optical systems. Any spherical surface will introduce spherical aberrations to an optical system. Meniscus lenses are designed with the curvatures of the lens in mind to minimise these spherical aberrations. This effect is more noticeable with higher index glasses as spherical aberrations increase with the change in index. Meniscus lenses can be an effective compromise on cost and aberration when compared to using aspheric lenses or multiple lens. Fore more information read the PDF….

Known for their resistance to mechanical and thermal shock, our Magnesium Fluoride (MgF2) Windows are specified for a variety of applications operating in a range of harsh environments. Commonly employed for high-tech applications include excimer lasers, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermography and other infrared (IR) systems, MgF2’s durability and birefringent properties make for a sought-after optical window across a spectrum of industries. What’s more, its stability in water means it’s ideally suited for outer surfaces, such as windows. With its birefringence (beneficial for polarisers in the UV waveband), transmittance between 0.1µm and 7µm and at over 90% between 0.4-5.0µm and hardness of circa HK576, MgF2 is one of the hardest optical fluorides. For more information read PDF ……

Knight Optical can offer Optolite Plastic Diffusers for use within Photography. We supply a range of Optolite Plastic Diffusers for a range of applications. All individually QA checked and metrology tested for quality to ensure parts meet customer specification. Supplied in a range of sizes and shapes with custom coatings tailored to meet your individual applications. Knight Optical supply precision optical components to customers within photgraphy. Optolite Plastic Diffusers are used in to diffuse the flash from cameras to prevent photos with harsh light and hard shadows to soften and improve the appeal of the image. Diffusers are also used in lightning systems to prevent glare from computer screens, the manufacture of lightboxes for advertising, viewing x-rays, and other applications. Read PDF for more information ….

Knight Optical can offer transmit and receive windows and mirrors for LIDAR systems using visible, NIR (0.9 to 1.5µm) and Mid-Waveband Infra-Red (MWIR, 3 to 5µm) light. Since the 1960s, scientists have used LIDAR (light detection and ranging) to study the atmosphere. Short pulses of laser light are used to detect particles or gases in the atmosphere, like a radar bounces radio waves off rain drops in clouds. A telescope collects and measures reflected laser radiation, like a radar dish collects the radar signal, leading to a profile of the atmosphere's structure along the path of the laser beam. Researchers can then determine the location, distribution, and nature of atmospheric particles and molecular species using an advanced LIDAR method called the Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL) technique. Read PDF for more information

Knight Optical We offer Stock Polarisers used in the visible range in cameras/photography. We supply a range of Polarizer options for a range of applications. All individually QA checked and metrology tested for quality to ensure parts meet customer specification. Supplied in a range of sizes and shapes with custom coatings tailored to meet your individual applications. Linear Polarisation can be split into P-Polarised (Light where the electric field is Parallel to the plane of incidence) and S-Polarised (Light where the electric field is Perpendicular to the plane of incidence) light, where a polariser can be used to eliminate one plane of polarisation. This is done to decrease ‘glare’ (reflections on the surface) when an image is being taken, and increase the contrast. This is used often with cameras to obtain ‘better’ image quality at the expense of an image that appears slightly darker. For more information read the PDF….

Glass Neutral Density filters attenuate light by absorption just like the gelatine neutral density filters. Glass ND Filters are more robust and tend to have more uniform absorption characteristics. They also attenuate by absorption and so care must be taken to avoid overheating. Attenuation is achieved by polishing glass to the correct thickness. Knight Optical offers stock absorptive ND filters in 12.5mm and 25mm diameters, and 50x50mm squares manufactured from high quality glass. Each filter is available with blocking between 0.1 and 4.0 OD and are available to purchase direct from this page. In addition to our stock absorptive glass ND filters, Knight Optical also offers an extensive custom optic service thanks to our many years of experience in the industry. We can supply ND filters cut to sizes and shapes to fit individual application and mount filters where applicable. READ PDF FOR FULL SPECIFICATION