Glass Molding Process (GMP) is an effective method for producing precise optical elements such as lenses. This simulation study aimed to predict the distribution of temperature and stress within a lens during a multi-stage cooling process of GMP. To develop an accurate simulation model including molds and lens, thermal contact conductance and boundary conditions were determined by analyzing experimental and simulation results. The developed model was used to investigate changes in temperature and maximum principal stress within the lens, considering variations in cooling time, speed, and method at each cooling stage. Simulation results indicated that trends of maximum temperature difference and maximum principal stress within the lens were consistent over time. Results also showed that the maximum principal stress inside the lens increased significantly with additional cooling after uneven temperature distribution caused by a relatively short cooling time. Compared to simulation results of the cooling process involving contact only with bottom surface of the mold, contact cooling with both top and bottom surfaces showed decreased residual stress at the end of cooling and maximum temperature difference within the lens. However, the maximum principal stress could be higher during the cooling process involving both surfaces.

The purpose of this study is to propose a better contact surface pattern of a heat radiating block in a progressive GMP (Glass Molding Process) heating assembly. In this study, a simulation model based on FEM was developed to perform a thermal analysis for the heating assembly. It was verified by comparing experimental results. The temperature distribution on the heating block surface and heating energy consumption was analyzed with the change of contact surface pattern and area of a heat radiating block. The considered pattern on the contact surface was cross (+) and straight (-) shape. The contact area ratio was changed from 16 to 100%. The simulation results show that the heating energy consumption increased to reach a target temperature with the increase of contact area ratio. The straight-shaped patterns on a heat radiating block presented more uniform temperature distribution on the mold heating surface than the cross shaped surface, whereas it resulted in a slightly higher energy consumption of up to 9%. This study shows that the contact surface pattern on a heat dissipating block can control the temperature distribution on the mold heating surface.

The fabrication method of aspheric lens is changed from machining to press molding so as to improve the productivity. In the case of the press molding method, the temperature control of the molding die is most important, because the temperature of each molding die determines the quality of lens. But any practical method for direct measuring of the lens temperature and the die internal temperature is yet unknown. Besides, in the case of the press molding system in which the heating and pressing and cooing of a die is done at separate work stations, the lens productivity of the system for small lens is yet too low. The paper shows an improved structure of convective sequential system, the lens productivity of which is three times as many as the conventional convective system. To know the die internal temperature, numerical results are given using ANSYS. A new convective sequential system is developed and tested. Finally, the Taguchi method is applied in order to optimize the setting conditions of individual work station of the system.