Off-Axis Parabolic Polymer Mirrors

Precision off-axis parabolic mirrors for compact optical systems. Off-axis parabolic (OAP) mirrors redirect and focus light without introducing spherical aberration, maintaining beam quality across wide apertures and compact optical paths. At G&H | GS Optics, we manufacture precision polymer OAP mirrors that deliver high reflectivity, low wavefront error, and consistent mechanical alignment for imaging, illumination, laser, and sensing systems.

By combining polymer injection molding, single-point diamond turning (SPDT), and advanced thin-film coatings, we produce lightweight parabolic mirrors that achieve exceptional optical accuracy at a fraction of the mass of traditional glass or metal designs.

Applications

• Illumination systems – compact beam focusing and redirection
• Laser and photonics – beam collimation, focusing, or folding
• Defense and aerospace – lightweight mirrors for sighting, targeting, and imaging systems
• Medical and analytical instruments – high-precision reflectors for compact optical assemblies
• AR/VR and projection systems – space-efficient reflective optical designs

Core Capabilities

• Custom off-axis parabolas up to 150 mm aperture
• Off-axis angles tailored to customer requirements
• Diamond-turned master tooling and direct-molded replication
• Reflective coatings in Aluminum, Silver, or Gold with optional protective layers
• Cleanroom assembly and coating in ISO Class 7 environment

Advantages of Polymer OAP Mirrors

• Aberration-free focusing: Maintains beam quality and uniformity across off-axis angles.
• Lightweight structure: Up to 5× lighter than equivalent glass or metal mirrors.
• Compact design flexibility: Enables short optical paths and tight packaging.
• High reflectivity: >95% reflectance across visible and NIR wavelengths.
• Scalable production: Precision replication for consistent performance in volume manufacturing.

Why G&H | GS Optics

• Deep expertise in polymer reflective optics and parabolic geometries
• Full in-house control: molding, coating, and metrology
• ISO-certified and DDTC-registered manufacturing in Rochester, NY
• Proven success across imaging, illumination, and defense applications
• Engineering collaboration from concept through volume production

Engineering Expertise

Based on decades of expertise, G&H | GS Optics engineers provide our customers with DFM recommendations to ensure that their polymer optics programs are successful. Using mold flow simulations, we can model how resin will fill the mold during the injection molding process to better position gates, anticipate where knit lines will appear, and locate difficult to fill spots in the mold. G&H | GS Optics specializes in scientific injection molding which is a systematic, data-driven methodology to produce world class polymer optics.

Prototypes are diamond-turned using Precitech Nanoform 200 and Nanoform X systems, achieving nanometric surface finish without post-polishing. The same tooling precision transfers directly into injection molds for scalable production.

Quality Assurance and Process Validation

All polymer optics produced by G&H | GS Optics are subject to rigorous quality standards to ensure consistent, reliable performance. Each lens is measured using a variety of metrology equipment to verify dimensional accuracy, surface quality, and refractive characteristics.

To reduce risk after transferring from development to production, GS Optics can conduct a process validation through a combination of installation (IQ), operational (OQ), and performance (PQ) qualifications, ensuring process repeatability and consistent optical performance.

Material & Coating Options

Coating Types:

• Aluminum (Al): Broad-spectrum visible reflectivity, durable with dielectric overcoat.
• Silver (Ag): Highest visible reflectance; ideal for high-efficiency optical designs.
• Gold (Au): Excellent infrared reflectivity and corrosion resistance.

All coatings are applied via vacuum thin-film deposition in-house for consistent adhesion and spectral performance.