Undo superglued in glass lens?

conundrum · May 13, 2011

Hi all.

Does anyone have any ideas how to non destructively remove one of these from an aixiz?

I put a single drop of glue on it having carefully focussed and aligned it, and evidently it got inside the module! (GRRR!) Next time use Epoxy.:scowl::scowl:

Any ideas how to undo this mess, as its an expensive burner diode and lens..

Thanks, -A :thanks:

JLSE · May 13, 2011

Keep in mind it may only be the fumes that got to the lens...
It will deposit on surrounding surface areas and 'fog' up the
optics..

I dont think there is a way to remove it, at least without
soaking in a harsh solvent like acetone.

Key idea here is NEVER use this type
of glue in lasers... Epoxy or nothing..

Godd luck with it.. :undecided:

JimBolder · May 14, 2011

Ouch. Yeah, never use super glue ANYWHERE NEAR a lens.

Epoxy is superior in every aspect.

Well it sounds like you're going to have to take the lens apart and clean each individual element with a strong solvent like 99% isopropyl or something. One of the ends is a threaded nut, which unscrews. Inside are 3 glass elements (2 are usually bonded together) and a metal spacer. Carefully clean each piece thoroughly with optical cloth and put them back in in the exact same order and orientation. It might take a couple of tries, because dust can get in really easily while you're putting it back together.

That or buy a new lens. :undecided:

If the diode window is also fogged up, you might have to carefully remove it or de-can the diode.

Lotus_Darkrose · May 14, 2011

Wannaburn is right with acetone, although a better option might be super glue remover, they usually sell it next to the super glue at the store. I'd try that before acetone, since it might end up removing it faster, and therefor not have to soak in nail polish remover.

RA_pierce · May 14, 2011

Hack saw or a cutting tool on a Dremel?

Stick the module in a vice and cut into the Aixiz module as deep as you can without cutting all the way through. Try not to cut into the lens nut. Then stick a flat-head screwdriver in the cut and twist. With enough force (and if the cut is deep enough) the metal should break and separate the diode and the lens in the other half of the module. Then you can press the diode out of the one half and soak the side the lens is adhered to in acetone to free it.

As wannaburn said, NEVER use cyanoacrylate glues. Epoxy is the only way to go.

Benm · May 14, 2011

Problem with soaking in solvents like acetone is that they can also damage the AR coating on the lens. Glue remover is also just a mix of solvents and could have the same problem.

I don't you'd fare much better with expoxy though, once that sets its also hard to remove, and can be even harder to dissolve than superglue bonds.

Lotus_Darkrose · May 14, 2011

Yeah it's not recommended to use solvents on AR coating, but he should be able to at least try something once he gets the lens out. Better than throwing the lens away right? I don't know of any other way besides those to remove the superglue from the lens.

RA_pierce · May 14, 2011

I've used acetone on plenty of lenses without a problem. Just a quick dip is usually enough to start dissolving any adhesives or gunk that is stuck on them.

I thought that the AR coatings were vapor deposited metallic coatings like Magnesium or something like that. I don't know much about chemistry (yet

) but I wasn't under the impression that acetone could dissolve metallic coatings.

Lotus_Darkrose · May 14, 2011

By Palin's law, my brother teaches high school chemistry, so that makes me good at it too

lasersbee · May 14, 2011

That's the way the cops use to permanently get a latent
fingerprint from a piece of evidence...
They fume the evidence with super glue...

Get yourself another lens and kiss the one you have good bye...:cryyy:

Jerry

JLSE · May 14, 2011

RA_pierce said:
I've used acetone on plenty of lenses without a problem. Just a quick dip is usually enough to start dissolving any adhesives or gunk that is stuck on them.

I thought that the AR coatings were vapor deposited metallic coatings like Magnesium or something like that. I don't know much about chemistry (yet ) but I wasn't under the impression that acetone could dissolve metallic coatings.

I have tried everything to strip AR coatings before... acetone did nothing.
When I was a kid, my mother worked at an optics factory, used to spend
many PA days there

Their primary cleaner for optics was acetone..

I have even tried heavy acids etc.. they are by far not an easy thing
to remove.

I have also tried acetone on aixiz optics, namely the 650AR coated
before the 405 coating was available. Those coatings were also not affected.

Benm · May 14, 2011

Thats good to know!

The warning for solvents vs coatings is fairly universal, but if the coating is insoluble (like MgF2) there should be no problem. Most coatings used these days are in fact hard, also materials like TiO2 - these things are about has hard as the glass they are coated onto and chemically inert.

That's the way the cops use to permanently get a latent
fingerprint from a piece of evidence...
They fume the evidence with super glue...

That doesnt mean it cannot be removed though. If you fume a fingerprint on a glass with cyanoacrylate it will become visible, but i'm quite sure i could remove it afterwards using solvents and a bit of polishing.

Undo superglued in glass lens?

conundrum

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RA_pierce

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