Lasers, Optics & Photonics Manufacturing worked example

Optics Polishing Time at 23% setup and inspection allowance: a worked example

This scenario runs the optics polishing time calculation on the strong side: 23% setup and inspection allowance, with every other input held at its documented default. Use this when scheduling polishing work for a production lot of lenses or flats, quoting delivery time to a customer, or deciding whether to add a second polishing spindle to meet demand.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Number of optical surfaces to polish: 100 surfaces (unchanged)
  • Polishing rate: 5 surfaces / hr (unchanged)
  • Setup and inspection allowance: 23 % (raised for this scenario; the documented default is 20)

Working through the calculation

  • Applying the documented formula (Base polishing time = number of optical surfaces / polishing rate) to the inputs above produces each figure below.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 24.6 hr for total polishing time (with setup), the number this scenario is built around.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 20 hr for base polishing time.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 23 % for setup and inspection time added.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 5 pieces / min for polishing rate.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where setup and inspection allowance sits at 20% and the headline result is 24 hr, this scenario comes in 2.5% above the baseline at 24.6 hr.
  • Use it when scheduling polishing capacity or quoting delivery for a batch of optical components. Treat this as a target state: the delta against the baseline quantifies what the improvement is worth before you commit to chasing it.

Results at a glance

  • Total polishing time (with setup): 24.6 hr (headline result)
  • Base polishing time: 20 hr
  • Setup and inspection time added: 23 %
  • Polishing rate: 5 pieces / min

Run it with your numbers

  • Every input above is editable in the live Optics Polishing Time calculator, which recalculates instantly and can be shared with the inputs intact.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.