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PFG Optics Expands on State-of-the-Art Optical Centering & Shaping

sales@pfgoptics.com (PFG Optics) — Fri, 31 Oct 2025 06:00:00 GMT

Next level technology enables optical centering less than 10 arc-seconds deviation for an assortment of lens geometries

Ocean Springs, MS, June 22, 2021 – PFG Precision Optics builds on an established reputation in the marketplace with new state-of-the-art optical centering equipment. While less than 30 arc-seconds deviation is widely considered “high precision” in the industry, PFG’s new capabilities will achieve extreme precision in centering of less than 10 arc-seconds deviation for many lens geometries. These capabilities extend an already established lead in the lens making space, formed over many years of perfecting the art.

PFG is leading the field as one of the first U.S. companies to adopt this new technology and software. Whether it be truncations, step-cuts, tapering, or square lenses – some of the most extreme lens profiles are possible. This new technology can even accommodate contour beveling of almost any shaped edges. High-accuracy truncation and forms will translate to a better fit for alignment.

Adding to PFG’s already established reputation in lens making, new manufacturing capabilities also include in-process laser alignment for higher precision and process control, new cutting tools with finer diamonds on bevels to reduce chipping, and twin cutting tools for lower cycle times. All of this means quicker deliveries for intricately shaped optics.

With these new advancements in this precision centering technology, PFG can provide its customers with the tightest, most versatile optical centering on the market. Please reach out to PFG’s sales team at sales@pfgoptics.com for more details.

Improved Spherical Capabilities include:

For more information on these improved spherical and optical centering capabilities:

sales@pfgoptics.com
(228) 875-0165
pfgoptics.com

Our capabilities do not fall on just our equipment and tooling, but the expertise of our engineers and operators.

Don’t hesitate to reach out to us to discuss your optics needs.

PFG Joins AmeriCOM DPOC

sales@pfgoptics.com (PFG Optics) — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 06:00:00 GMT

At PFG Precision Optics, we’re proud to announce our membership in the Defense Precision Optics Consortium (DPOC), a key initiative of the American Center for Optics Manufacturing (AmeriCOM). This partnership strengthens our commitment to advancing America’s precision optics industry and supporting the long-term sustainability of the U.S. defense manufacturing base.

A Strategic Commitment to U.S. Defense and Innovation

DPOC plays a critical role in the U.S. Department of Defense Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) program. By joining the consortium, PFG becomes part of a growing network of optical manufacturers, research institutions, and academic partners working collaboratively to:

Secure the U.S. precision optics supply chain
Accelerate next-generation optics manufacturing technologies
Develop and sustain a highly skilled optics workforce
Support critical defense readiness and national security objectives

We’re honored to align our capabilities with AmeriCOM’s mission and contribute our decades of experience in manufacturing high-precision optical components for defense, aerospace, and advanced commercial applications.

Why This Matters

The U.S. defense ecosystem depends on a robust, secure, and innovative optics manufacturing base. As global challenges evolve, ensuring domestic capacity for producing precision optics is more important than ever. By participating in DPOC, PFG is doubling down on its mission to deliver unmatched quality from our facility in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.

Precision Optics, Perfected

This milestone reinforces our belief that American-made optics are critical to the future of defense technology. We’re excited to collaborate with other DPOC members to drive innovation, shape workforce development, and ensure the U.S. maintains global leadership in optical science and manufacturing.

To learn more about our capabilities or how we’re contributing to this national initiative, contact our team directly.

PFG Optics 2025 Crawfish Boil

trevor.green@pfgoptics.com (Trevor Green) — Wed, 21 May 2025 12:00:00 GMT

This week, we took a break from the shop floor to host one of our favorite events —our annual Crawfish Boil.

Here on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, a crawfish boil is more than just a meal—it’s a way of life. It’s how we unwind, connect, and show appreciation for one another. With some great crawfish from Taranto’s Seafood, great weather, and plenty of laughs, it was a great time to celebrate all that we’ve accomplished as a PFG team.

We’re incredibly proud of the work we do but we’re just as proud of the people behind that work. Our team is the heart of everything we do, and events like this highlight the culture that sets us apart.

Thanks to everyone who helped make it a success. We’re already looking forward to next year! ✌️❤️🦞

Precision Optics for Defense Applications

sales@pfgoptics.com (PFG Optics) — Wed, 07 May 2025 06:00:00 GMT

Navigating defense optics sourcing is more complex than ever. From strict export control regulations and cybersecurity requirements to rugged performance specifications and supply chain risks, success demands more than just technical capability. Precision Optics for Defense Applications offers critical insights for defense program managers, engineers, and buyers alike. Learn how PFG’s vertically integrated, ITAR-compliant U.S. manufacturing operation ensures reliability, mitigates risk, and delivers optics designed to meet mission-critical requirements. Download the white paper today and discover why so many defense programs rely on PFG for their optics needs.

SPIE DCS 2025 - PFG Exhibiting

sales@pfgoptics.com (PFG Optics) — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 06:00:00 GMT

PFG Precision Optics is excited to announce our participation in the upcoming SPIE Defense + Commercial Sensing 2025 conference and exhibition. The event will take place from April 13–17, 2025, at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.

We invite you to visit us at Booth #618 during the exhibition, which runs from April 15–17. Our team will be onsite to showcase our latest advancements. Whether you’re interested in lenses, mirrors, windows, prisms, or specialized coatings, PFG offers solutions designed to meet the rigorous demands of the modern defense marketplace. Put PFG’s 45+ years in defense manufacturing to work in your next project.

At our booth, you can explore:

Onshore volume optics production to strengthen your supply chain
ITAR, DDTC, and CMMC compliance ensuring secure and reliable partnerships
High-durability coatings that meet or exceed major MIL-SPEC standards
Conductive coatings for effective EMI protection
Custom coating services spanning wavelengths from UV to MWIR
Precision lens and doublet centering with industry-leading accuracy

To arrange a one-on-one meeting with our experts during the event, please use the following link: https://connect.pfgoptics.com/meetings/trevor-green/dcs2025-meeting

We look forward to connecting with you in Orlando and discussing how PFG Precision Optics can support your defense optics needs.

Product Spotlight: Conductive Coatings ⋆ High precision optics manufacturing optical company

sales@pfgoptics.com (PFG Optics) — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 07:00:00 GMT

What Are Conductive Coatings?

In advanced opto-electronic systems, conductive thin-film coatings provide a unique combination of transparency and conductivity, making them essential in applications ranging from touchscreens and displays to electro-optical devices and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding. The most widely used materials for this purpose are a class of Transparent Conductive Oxides (TCO), the most common of which is Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) due to its ability to allow visible light to pass through while providing relatively low electrical sheet resistance. Another common solution is a patterned metallic grid, usually of a gold or silver metallic layer created with a lithographic process.

Applications of Conductive Coatings

1. EMI Shielding

Glass optics effectively “break” the Faraday cage of an opto-electronic system, exposing the internal electronics to EMI damage. Conductive coatings solve this problem by acting as transparent shielding layer, rejecting EMI while preserving optical transparency, making them critical in many defense, aerospace, and medical imaging systems. In this configuration, a low sheet resistance film with a low impedance path to ground is desired.

2. Heated Optics & Anti-Fog Solutions

Conductive coatings can also be used in de-icing and anti-fog applications. By applying an electrical current, the coating generates heat, preventing condensation or ice buildup on optical surfaces, such as aircraft windows, automotive cameras, and outdoor sensor systems. In contrast with EMI shielding, a high sheet resistance film is desired, which provides resistive heating across the optical surface.

3. Touchscreens & Displays

Smartphones, tablets, and interactive displays rely on conductive coatings to enable touch functionality. The conductive layer detects touch inputs while ensuring high light transmission for clear visuals.

Design Considerations

Usable wavelengths

Transparent conductive oxides tend to be very transparent in the visible spectrum (400-700nm), especially when paired with an anti-reflection (AR) coating. In visible spectra, TCO absorptive losses in the 1-5% range are typical, depending on the sheet resistance required.

However, in longer wavelengths, TCO coatings losses tend to become more significant. TCO coatings will begin reflecting (and absorbing) in the NIR region and beyond, especially >1um. This can be a problem depending on the application spectra. One typical solution to this is applying only very thin layers of material, limiting the total losses, at the cost of higher sheet resistance. For MWIR wavelengths and beyond, TCO coatings should be carefully considered alongside other solutions as losses will be extreme.

Electrical Connection

Connection from the system power bus to the film can be achieved a number of ways:

Metallic Bus Bars

A bus bar is a strip of conductive material (often silver) deposited around the perimeter of the coated optic. This provides a dedicated, low resistance contact area to attach electrical leads for near-uniform impedance. A bus bar improves electrical continuity and prevents localized high-resistance connections.

PFG generally recommends this method, and can create tooling to pattern bus bars in precise configurations. Bus bars can even be patterned to wrap around an optic’s edge, allowing connections from the optic’s face or diameter:

Contacts or Clips

Direct electrical contact to the conductive film with metal contacts or clips can be used to apply consistent pressure to the conductive conductive surface without requiring bus bars, adhesive, or soldering. This method yields a higher contact resistance than bus bars, and relatively high mechanical force must be used.

Conductive Epoxy

Conductive epoxy provides a secure, low-resistance bond between a wire and the conductive coating. Epoxy with silver fill (such as Master Bond EP3HTSDA-2) can provide low resistivity and high bond strength.

Custom Conductive Coatings at PFG Precision Optics

At PFG Precision Optics, we specialize in high-quality conductive coatings tailored to meet your specific needs.

Our coatings offer:

High optical transmission and low scatter/haze for superior visibility ✅
Precise sheet resistance control for sensitive applications✅
Custom bus bar configurations for electronic integration✅
AR coatings for minimizing TCO losses✅

Please contact PFG to discuss your next coating project! You can find more information on PFG’s coating capabilities here.

sales@pfgoptics.com

Filter Glass: Use Cases and Engineering Insights

sales@pfgoptics.com (PFG Optics) — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 07:00:00 GMT

Calcium Fluoride Optics

sales@pfgoptics.com (PFG Optics) — Thu, 08 Dec 2022 07:00:00 GMT

Achieving High-Throughput, Low Surface Roughness & Improved Scatter

PFG Precision Optics has created a proprietary high-throughput process to polish plano Calcium Fluoride (CaF₂) optics with low surface roughness for low scatter, especially at short wavelengths. Our President of Engineering, Courtney Green, drove efforts to develop the polishing process, and designed and built two of our own hybrid continuous polishers (CPs) comprised of features best designed for crystalline materials.

The result is a throughput increase 4X that of our previous methods, and the ability to achieve exceptional flatness, cosmetics, and surface roughness.

Why Calcium Fluoride Optics (CaF₂)?

CaF₂ is used in a wide range of optical applications as it has a wide transmission range from 130nm to 10µm. It also has low axial and radial-stress birefringence, high refractive-index homogeneity, low degradation from moisture, and low solubility. All of these qualities make CaF₂ a good choice for a variety of UV, visible, and IR applications. CaF₂ optics are commonly found in thermal imaging systems, spectroscopy, telescopes, and excimer lasers.

CaF₂ Specific Polishing Process

Our propriety process for polishing CaF₂ allows our opticians to maintain flatness and surface quality throughout fabrication. We mix a specially developed polish that prevents chemical imbalance. The polishing lap we pour is also a unique recipe for pitch that generates the perfect hardness ratio to yield the best results for surface roughness. Taken together, these improvements avoid common pitfalls with crystalline materials polishing.

CaF₂ is a very soft glass type (Knoop hardness of 139-152), which means simply wiping it incorrectly during cleaning can cause it to scratch. To prevent this from happening, we have developed a particular process for cleaning CaF₂ that avoids cosmetic issues. This same cleaning process is also utilized before applying any thin film coatings to CaF₂ optics.

This material’s properties also make inspection difficult. Inspecting for features like center thickness (CT), wedge, and surface figures can result in scratches. Because of this, we have made modifications to metrology and blocking procedures that allow us to check parts without causing defects.

Custom Built Continuous Polishers

As we developed our polishing process, we found no commercially available equipment that would meet our needs. In order to achieve our quality goals, we had to develop our own machinery. Our team leveraged years of experience and critically selected elements that are most advantageous to crystalline polishing processes. With this in mind, PFG designed and built in-house two 36” custom continuous polishers (CPs) (see Figure 1).

Some of these elements include (1) a specific frame that allows for floating carriers that do not touch the lap, (2) a custom precision granite table on a specially fabricated drive plate, and (3) a turn table bearing that provides precision stability. The framework was built to minimize corrosion and prevent transmission to the lap.

Results – Why this Matters

PFG’s combined efforts to develop a propriety polishing process and build two custom CPs have allowed us to become leaders in plano CaF₂ optics. We are able to exceed flatness specs of ¼ fringe PV, 10-5 scratch-dig or better, surface roughness <3 angstroms, and produce 4X higher yields.

These improvements allow us to provide consistent, high-quality results and the ability to deliver higher volume production yields in less than a quarter of the time

If you are interested in using CaF₂ for your project, product, or program contact us to learn more:

sales@pfgoptics.com

(228) 875-0165 x 210

Senator Wicker Visits PFG Precision Optics

sales@pfgoptics.com (PFG Optics) — Tue, 19 Apr 2022 06:00:00 GMT

Senator Sees First-Hand the Benefits of Optics & Photonics on Local, National Economy

(Ocean Springs, MS) – Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) toured PFG Precision Optics earlier this week to see first-hand the operations of one of the highly regarded participants in the optics and photonics industry. During the site visit, Senator Wicker and his wife Gayle met with technicians, engineers, and management to learn about the manufacturing of high precision optical components, which PFG Precision Optics provides to the defense, semiconductor and medical industries as well as to scientists at universities and national laboratories around the country.

“It was a privilege to host Senator Wicker at PFG Optics today,” stated PFG Precision Optics President Travis Green. “We appreciate his interest in our company and the photonics industry. It was a wonderful opportunity for us to showcase the impact that our optics technology has on our everyday lives.”

PFG Precision Optics has made high-quality, high-precision optics in the US for more than four decades. Example end-applications of its products include sighting, targeting and laser range-finding for the military; cataract surgery equipment; semiconductor wafer inspection; and many important spectroscopy and metrology applications. The company is a family-owned business in its fourth generation and abides by the values of quality, hard work, integrity, and respect.

“Cutting-edge technologies like photonics and optics are crucial to our national defense, economic innovation, and competitiveness,” Senator Wicker said. “I appreciated the chance to spend some time at PFG Precision Optics. Their products and skilled employees are laying the groundwork for America’s future, right here in Mississippi.”

Historically, the United States has been the world leader in deploying optics and photonics research to power cutting-edge technologies, but global competition has put our leadership position at risk, causing a substantial loss of global market share to overseas competitors as well as thousands of US jobs.

Through the National Photonics Initiative (NPI), PFG Precision Optics is working to raise awareness about photonics and unite industry, academia, and government experts to identify and advance areas of photonics critical to maintaining US competitiveness and national security: advancing manufacturing, communication and information technology, defense and national security, energy, and health and medicine. US investment in these photonics-driven fields will create jobs and grow our economy, protect and improve the lives of our people, and position the United States as a global technology leader.

ABOUT PFG PRECISION OPTICS: US manufacturer of high precision optical components (UV thru mid-IR) with a multi-decade track record of reliably producing quality commercial and military optics. Capabilities include spherical – doublets/triplets – and flat optics – prisms, wedges, beamsplitters, polarizers, filters, and mirrors. Our in-house coating facility offers a wide variety of custom coatings, including high power laser coatings, ITO, and high durability ARs. Our first priority has always focused on advancing technical competence to provide superior optical products to our customers. For more information, visit https://PFGoptics.com.

ABOUT THE NPI: The National Photonics Initiative (NPI) is a collaborative alliance among industry, academia, and government seeking to raise awareness of photonics and the impact of photonics on our everyday lives; increase cooperation and coordination among US industry, government, and academia to advance photonics-driven fields; and drive US funding and investment in areas of photonics critical to maintaining US economic competitiveness and national security. The initiative is led by Optica and SPIE, the International Society for Optics and Photonics and included partners the American Physical Society (APS), the IEEE Photonics Society, and the Laser Institute of America (LIA), For more information, visit www.LightOurFuture.org.

Photonics West 2022 - PFG Optics Exhibiting ⋆

sales@pfgoptics.com (PFG Optics) — Thu, 20 Jan 2022 07:00:00 GMT

In just 5 days we’ll be attending Photonics West 2022 in San Francisco, CA, and we will be exhibiting at Booth #1928! This is the world’s premier lasers, biomedical optics, and optoelectronics event. We can’t wait to network with others in the industry, learn more about new technologies and trends, and take home knowledge we can apply to our current processes.

Health and safety protocols are in place; vaccinations are required for all Photonics West participants
San Francisco is a highly vaccinated city with mask requirements and proof of vaccination required in The Moscone Center, restaurants, and bars.
Nothing can replace the excitement, customer interactions, and serendipitous connections of in-person exhibitions!

Photonics West will feature:

Technical presentations, plenary presentations, and a variety of networking activities
Hear cutting-edge research in biomedical optics, biophotonics, industrial lasers, optoelectronics, microfabrication, MOEMS-MEMS, displays, and more
Courses led by industry leaders and professionals
A forecasted attendance over 10,000 and nearly 800 exhibitors
Greater than 3,000 papers are scheduled in the BiOS, LASE and OPTO program attracting a solid technical audience

Interested in registering? Here is a link that you can use! REGISTER HERE

Here’s who you can expect to chat with at Photonics West:

Travis Green – President
Kyle Fortenberry – Senior Optical Thin Films Coating Engineer
Stephanie Park – Sales & Procurement
Amber Contant – Sales & Marketing

Our sister company, Alpine Research Optics, will also be exhibiting at the show – Booth #1930. They will be featuring their new Optical Thin Film Coating Scientist, Kestutis Juskevicius, PhD.

Kestutis has over 15 years of experience in the laser optics coating industry and research. He is experienced with E-beam, Magnetron Sputtering, and IBS coating technologies, and has developed strategies to increase LIDT of optical elements and reduce stress in optical coatings.

Want to grab some time at the show to connect with a member of our team?

Shoot us an email at sales@pfgoptics.com or grab some time on OUR CALENDAR to book a spot during Photonics West!