Customized Optical Components Designed for Industrial Precision and Efficiency
What Are F-theta Lenses?
F-theta lenses are advanced optical components specifically designed for precision laser scanning and material processing applications. Unlike traditional focusing lenses, which can only maintain focus along a curved surface, F-theta lenses create a perfectly flat imaging field (also called a flat-field) at the target plane. This means the focused laser spot remains sharp, accurate, and consistent across the entire scan area, regardless of its position within the field.
F-theta lenses are also referred to by several alternative names such as scan objectives, flat-field focusing lenses, or linear scanning lenses. Their compact, multi-element constructions are typically manufactured from high-purity optical glass or fused silica with specialized coatings that enhance light transmission and resist damage from high-power lasers.
Key Parameters of F-theta Lenses
When choosing an F-theta lens for a specific laser application, several important parameters must be considered to ensure optimal performance:
Focal Length
- Definition: The distance from the lens to the focal plane where the laser spot is precisely focused.
- Typical Range: 100 mm to 400 mm.
- Impact: The longer the focal length, the larger the scan area (field size) and the bigger the focused spot size. Shorter focal lengths allow for tighter, higher-resolution spots but with a smaller scan field.
Wavelength Compatibility
- Laser Types: F-theta lenses are designed for different laser wavelengths, usually matching the laser source (e.g., ultraviolet 355 nm, visible 532 nm, infrared 1064 nm).
- Material Selection: High-purity fused silica or special optical glasses are chosen for transparency at target wavelengths.
Scan Field Diameter
- Definition: The maximum area over which the laser can be scanned with minimal spot distortion or focus loss.
- Influence: Directly related to focal length; longer focal length delivers a larger field.
Spot Size
- Importance: Determines processing resolution and the finest features that can be achieved.
- Dependencies: Affected by the laser’s beam quality, lens focal length, and input beam diameter.
Transmission and Coatings
- Transmission Efficiency: High transmission, typically >99% with advanced anti-reflective coatings, is essential to maximize laser power at the workpiece and reduce losses.
- Damage Threshold: Coatings must tolerate high-energy lasers and prolonged use.
Distortion
- Flatness: Distortion less than 1% across the scan field is considered ideal, ensuring high accuracy and fidelity.
- Telecentricity: Some high-end F-theta lenses are engineered to maintain perpendicularity of the laser beam throughout the scan area, minimizing aberrations.
Construction Quality
- Surface Quality: Often specified as 20-10 Scratch-Dig (very low optical imperfections).
- Thermal Stability: Ability to maintain performance under varying heat loads from high-power lasers.bote
Mounting and Size
- Mechanical Compatibility: Standard threaded mounts or customized housings for different galvo scanning heads.
- Protective Features: Dust and moisture resistance for industrial environments.
Types of F-theta Lenses
- UV F-theta Lenses: For ultraviolet lasers (around 355 nm). Used for high-precision micromachining and marking of sensitive materials.
- Visible F-theta Lenses: Optimized for green lasers (532 nm), often used in electronics or thin-film processing.
- IR F-theta Lenses: Best for near-infrared lasers (1064 nm), the most common for general industrial marking, engraving, and cutting.
- Multi-Wavelength Lenses: Capable of transmitting and focusing multiple wavelengths for specialized or research applications.
Applications of F-theta Lenses
F-theta lenses have revolutionized laser-based manufacturing by enabling highly precise, reliable, and fast processing across a range of industries. Their main applications include:
Laser Marking
Used extensively in industrial settings to add permanent barcodes, serial numbers, graphics, or logos on metals, plastics, ceramics, and even delicate items like microchips. The lens enables fine, distortion-free engraving at high speeds with consistent quality across the entire marking area.
Laser Engraving
Critical for creating deep or textured marks with fine detail. F-theta lenses maintain tightly focused beams, improving resolution and depth control.
Laser Cutting
Used in thin-foil cutting, stent manufacturing, or advanced micro-cutting, these lenses ensure that the laser maintains focus over large areas, enabling high edge quality and dimensional accuracy.
Micromachining and Welding
F-theta lenses excel in applications where tiny or complex geometries must be produced or joined with exacting precision, such as medical device fabrication, electronics, and precision tooling.
3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing
Applied in selective laser sintering (SLS) or other additive manufacturing techniques, providing the consistent beam focus needed for layer-by-layer fabrication.
Scientific and Research Uses
Integral to confocal microscopy, scanning laser microscopy, LIDAR, and optical coherence tomography, where a precisely controlled laser spot across a flat imaging plane is essential for accurate measurements or imaging.
Advantages of F-theta Lenses
- Consistent Spot Size and Focus: Maintains a sharp, tiny spot regardless of scan angle or position.
- Flat Field Precision: Guarantees distortion-free imaging over the whole field, ideal for marking, inspection, and measurement applications.
- High Power Handling: Modern F-theta lenses are engineered for use with powerful industrial lasers while ensuring long service life.
- Optimized Transmission: Advanced anti-reflective coatings maximize throughput, reduce ghost reflections, and avoid power loss.
- Compatibility: Works seamlessly with popular galvanometer scanning heads for two-axis (x, y) laser positioning systems.
- Flexibility: Configurations available for a range of laser wavelengths and field sizes.
When choosing an F-theta lens for your system, consider:
Selecting the Right F-theta Lens
- The type of laser source and wavelength.
- Desired focal length and scan field size.
- Minimum required spot size or application resolution.
- Mechanical/electrical compatibility with your scanning system.
- Environmental factors: dust, humidity, temperature.
- Budget and performance requirements, especially for high-volume production settings.
Explore our offer
Discover the power and potential of our F-Theta lenses.
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Explore our curated selection of high-performance F-theta lenses below. Whether upgrading a marking machine, building a new laser workstation, or advancing your research, we’re here to deliver unmatched optical performance and guidance.
Need assistance? Contact our optics specialists for custom recommendations, bulk pricing, and technical advice.
SEARCH:
- Choose a specific value to narrow down the table.
- The match must be exact
- For example: “532”, “FS”.
| Product | Focal length (mm) | Type | Wavelength (nm) | Scan field (mm²) | Scan Angle (°) | Material (FS = Fused Silica; OG = Optical Glass) | Specification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LINOS F-Theta-Ronar Lens 4401-261-000-21 | 163 | regular | 1064 | 115 x 115 | ±20.2 | OG | Specification |
LINOS F-Theta-Ronar Lens 4401-288-000-20 | 254 | regular | 1064 | 157 x 157 | ±17.7 | OG | Specification |
| LINOS F-Theta-Ronar Lens 4401-289-000-20 | 250 | regular | 532 | 154 x 154 | ±17.7 | OG | Specification |
LINOS F-Theta-Ronar Lens 4401-301-000-21 | 160 | regular | 1064 | 99 x 99 | ±17.7 | OG | Specification |
LINOS F-Theta-Ronar Lens 4401-302-000-21 | 100 | regular | 1064 | 62 x 62 | ±17.7 | OG | Specification |
LINOS F-Theta-Ronar Lens 4401-305-000-21 | 160 | regular | 532 | 98 x 98 | ±17.7 | OG | Specification |
LINOS F-Theta-Ronar Lens 4401-350-000-21 | 420 | regular | 1064 | 291 x 291 | ±19.8 | OG | Specification |
LINOS F-Theta-Ronar Lens 4401-360-000-21 | 330 | regular | 1064 | 217 x 217 | ±18.7 | OG | Specification |
LINOS F-Theta-Ronar Lens 4401-399-000-21 | 160 | regular | 355 | 98 x 98 | ±17.7 | FS | Specification |
LINOS F-Theta-Ronar Lens 4401-461-000-21 | 100 | telec. | 532 | 53 x 53 | ±15.7 | FS+OG | Specification |
LINOS F-Theta-Ronar Lens 4401-464-000-21 | 100 | telec. | 1064 | 57 x 57 | ±17.0 | FS+OG | Specification |
LINOS F-Theta-Ronar Lens 4401-481-000-21 | 255 | regular | 355 | 170 x 170 | ±19.3 | FS | Specification |
LINOS F-Theta-Ronar Lens 4401-496-000-26 | 255 | regular | 532 | 183 x 183 | ±20.9 | FS | Specification |
LINOS F-Theta-Ronar Lens 4401-499-000-26 | 255 | regular | 1064 | 187 x 187 | ±21.3 | FS | Specification |
LINOS F-Theta-Ronar Lense 4401-508-000-26 | 420 | regular | 1064 | 254 x 254 | ±17.3 | FS | Specification |
LINOS F-Theta-Ronar Lens 4401-509-000-21 | 100 | telec. | 355 | 46 x 46 | ±12.7 | FS | Specification |
LINOS F-Theta-Ronar Lens 4401-511-000-21 | 167 | telec. | 355 | 65 x 65 | ±11. 3 | FS | Specification |
LINOS F-Theta-Ronar Lens 4401-513-000-26 | 167 | telec. | 1064 | 84 x 84 | ±14.9 | FS | Specification |
LINOS F-Theta-Ronar Lens 4401-517-000-26 | 167 | telec. | 532 | 86 x 86 | ±15.4 | FS | Specification |
LINOS F-Theta-Ronar Lens 4401-524-000-21 | 330 | regular | 980 | 202 x 202 | ±17.6 | OG | Specification |
LINOS F-Theta-Ronar Lens 4401-525-000-21 | 420 | regular | 980 | 253 x 253 | ±17.3 | OG | Specification |
LINOS F-Theta-Ronar Lens 4401-526-000-21 | 254 | regular | 980 | 120 x 120 | ±13.6 | OG | Specification |
LINOS F-Theta-Ronar Lens 4401-527-000-21 | 162 | regular | 980 | 84 x 84 | ±14.8 | OG | Specification |
LINOS F-Theta-Ronar Lens 4401-546-000-26 | 340 | regular | 1064 | 176 x 176 | ±15.1 | FS | Specification |
LINOS F-Theta-Ronar Lens 4401-547-000-26 | 100 | telec. | 532 | 43 x 43 | ±12.2 | FS | Specification |
LINOS F-Theta-Ronar Lens 4401-551-000-26 | 70 | telec. | 1064 | 26 x 26 | ±10.9 | FS | Specification |
LINOS F-Theta-Ronar Lens 4401-561-000-26 | 100 | telec. | 1064 | 44 x 44 | ±12.2 | FS | Specification |
LINOS F-Theta-Ronar Lens 4401-568-000-21 | 437 | regular | 1940 | 292 x 292 | ±19.2 | FS | Specification |
LINOS F-Theta-Ronar Lens 4401-569-000-21 | 354 | regular | 1940 | 214 x 214 | ±16.6 | FS | Specification |
LINOS F-Theta-Ronar Lens 4401-576-000-21 | 70 | telec. | 355 | 28 x 28 | ±11.3 | FS | Specification |
LINOS F-Theta-Ronar Lens 4401-587-000-26 | 160 | regular | 532 | 83 x 83 | ±15.2 | FS | Specification |
LINOS F-Theta-Ronar Lens 4401-588-000-21 | 265 | regular | 1940 | 155 x 155 | ±16.9 | FS | Specification |
LINOS F-Theta-Ronar Lens 4401-589-000-26 | 163 | regular | 1064 | 85 x 85 | ±15.2 | FS | Specification |
LINOS F-Theta-Ronar Lens 4401-590-000-26 | 420 | regular | 532 | 251 x 251 | ±17.1 | FS | Specification |
LINOS F-Theta-Ronar Lens 4401-599-000-26 | 75 | telec. | 532 | 24 x 24 | ±9.5 | FS | Specification |
LINOS F-Theta-Ronar Lens 4401-604-000-26 | 270 | regular | 1064 | 136 x 136 | ±14.8 | FS | Specification |
LINOS F-Theta-Ronar Lens 4401-605-000-26 | 265 | regular | 532 | 133 x 133 | ±14.7 | FS | Specification |
LINOS F-Theta-Ronar Lens 4401-607-000-26 | 118 | telec. | 1064 | 50 x 50 | ±15.6 | FS | Specification |
LINOS F-Theta-Ronar Lens 4401-608-000-26 | 114 | telec. | 532 | 65 x 65 | ±17.0 | FS | Specification |
| LINOS F-Theta-Ronar Lens 4401-611-000-26 NEW  | 262 | regular | 450 | 61 x 61 | ±6.7 | FS | Specification |
LINOS F-Theta-Ronar Lens 4401-616-000-26 | 250 | telec. | 532 | 69 x 69 | ±8 | FS | Specification |
LINOS F-Theta-Ronar Lens 4401-617-000-28 | 330 | regular, | 355 | 212 x 212 | ±18.6 | FS | Specification |
LINOS F-Theta-Ronar Lens 4401-617-000-29 | 330 | regular, | 355 | 212 x 212 | ±18.6 | FS | Specification |
LINOS F-Theta-Ronar Lens 4401-631-000-26 | 251 | telec. | 1064 | 63 x 63 | ±7.2 | FS | Specification |
| JENar F-Theta 017700-205-26 #16-773  | 255 | telec. | 515 - 540 | 165 x 165 | 52.1 | Specification | |
| JENar F-Theta 017700-208-26 #16-774 | 330 | telec. | 515 - 540 | 245 x 245 | 57.6 | Specification | |
| JENar F-Theta 017700-203-26 #17-023 | 108 | telec. | 515 - 540 | 53 x 53 | 40 | ||
| JENar F-Theta 017700-017-26 #16-772 | 255 | telec. | 1030 - 1080 | 169 x 169 | 53.2 | Specification | |
| JENar F-Theta 601926 #17-024 | 125 | telec. | 500 - 680, 1030 - 1080 | 57 x 57 | 37.2 | Specification | |
| JENar F-Theta 601948 #17-025 | 255 | telec. | 500 - 680, 1030 - 1080 | 169 x 169 | 53.2 | Specification | |
| JENar Silverline F-Theta 017700-402-26 #16-768  | 103 | telec. | 355 | 50 x 50 | ±20.1 | FS | Specification |
| JENar Silverline F-Theta 586840 #16-771 | 170 | telec. | 355 | 100 x 100 | ±25 | FS | Specification |
| JENar Silverline F-Theta 017700-405-26 #17-026 | 510 | telec. | 355 | 328 x 328 | ±25.7 | FS | Specification |
| JENar Silverline F-Theta 601787 #17-021 | 160 | telec. | 900 - 1100 | 78 x 78 | ±20 | FS | Specification |
| JENar Silverline F-Theta 601804 #17-022 | 255 | telec. | 900 - 1100 | 114 x 114 | ±18 | FS | Specification |
| JENar Silverline F-Theta 017700-025-26 #16-769 | 160 | telec. | 1030 - 1080 | 78 x 78 | ±20 | FS | Specification |
| JENar Silverline F-Theta 017700-026-26 #16-770 | 255 | telec. | 1030 - 1080 | 114 x 114 | ±18 | FS | Specification |
| Color Corrected F-Theta Lens #26-809  | 163 | telec. | 1000 - 1060 | 80x80 | 20 | OG | Specification |
Frequently Asked Questions
Shorter focal lengths are ideal for small, detailed work or when space is tight but yield a smaller field. Longer focal lengths suit larger marking/cutting fields but produce larger spots.
Tiny, consistent spots enable higher resolution and detail when marking, engraving, or cutting, directly impacting quality.
Only if the lens supports the relevant wavelengths. Material and coatings must be compatible with your specific laser’s output.
Keep them clean using approved lens tissues/solutions and inspect coatings regularly for damage or contamination. Proper mounting ensures stability and longevity
