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Find out more about our custom plate beamsplitters
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Knight Optical offers an extensive selection of custom plate beamsplitters designed for applications spanning the UV, visible, NIR, and IR wavebands. Our plate beam splitter products are engineered to meet diverse application requirements, ensuring high performance and reliability.
Our range of custom plate beamsplitters is available in various quality grades and R/T (reflection/transmission) ratios. The standard range of beam splitter plates is crafted from sheet white float glass substrates, typically available in 1, 2, and 3mm thicknesses. For applications requiring precise wavelength performance, our quality grade plate beamsplitters feature precision-polished substrates made from materials selected for optimal wavelength compatibility.
These precision-grade plate beamsplitters boast highly parallel and flat surfaces, achieving a superior surface scratch and dig quality. One surface is treated with a thin film coating to reflect and transmit light according to specified ratios (ranging from 25/75 to 75/25), while the second surface is anti-reflection coated to minimise reflection and double imaging in the reflection plane. The coatings are optimised for 45° incidence and offer a broad bandwidth covering desired wavelengths, including UV, visible, NIR, and FIR.
For cost-conscious projects, Knight Optical presents a custom economy grade of beam splitter plates, providing a cost-effective alternative for applications with lower tolerance requirements, such as lighting, entertainment, and autocue prompting for conferencing.
Our custom precision range includes plate beamsplitters with a single-layer TiO₂ coating. These do not feature an AR coating on the second face as standard. Applied to soda-lime float glass, these plate beamsplitters are most effective in the visible spectrum. Although the surface quality and split ratio variability with wavelength may differ from other grades, they remain an efficient choice for specific applications.
Knight Optical can customise plate beam splitter sizes and shapes up to 900x730mm, applying coatings to pre-AR coated sheets to produce large AR coated plate beamsplitters, eliminating double imaging and ghosting effects.
Speak to our experts about your Custom Plate Beamsplitter needs today
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Metrology Testing and Quality Assurance
Every plate beamsplitter undergoes individual testing with our Agilent Cary 5000 spectrometers, equipped with a UMA device for assessing coatings in transmission and reflection at any angle. Our DRA device is used for evaluating complex beam splitter plate components, and the Agilent 660 FTIR spectrometer for coatings between 3.5µm and 45µm. Our skilled technicians in our state-of-the-art metrology lab ensure each component meets Knight Optical’s stringent quality standards.
Our plate beamsplitters are engineered to meet diverse application needs, ensuring high performance and reliability for a variety of sectors including medical industries, defence and aerospace, robotics automation, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is a plate beam splitter and how does it work?
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A plate beam splitter is an optical device used to divide a beam of light into two separate beams. It works by using a thin, flat piece of glass or other transparent material, which is coated with a special optical coating. This coating is designed to reflect a certain percentage of the incoming light while transmitting the rest. Plate beam splitters are simple in design, making them versatile for a wide range of applications in optics and photonics.
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How do plate beam splitters differ from cube beam splitters?
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Plate beam splitters differ from cube beam splitters primarily in their design and the way they split light. Plate beam splitters use a flat, thin coated glass plate to divide the light, which can introduce slight angular deviations and require precise alignment. Cube beam splitters, on the other hand, are made by bonding two right-angle prisms together, with the interface coated for beam splitting. Cubes tend to minimize alignment issues and do not introduce significant beam deviation, making them suitable for more sensitive optical setups.
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What are the typical applications of plate beamsplitters?
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Plate beamsplitters are used in a variety of applications, including laser systems, optical imaging, photography, fiber optic telecommunications, and scientific research. Their simplicity and efficiency make them ideal for tasks requiring beam splitting, such as creating optical paths for measurement, analysis, or image capture, where the specific polarization state of the beams is not critical.
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Can plate beam splitters be used with any type of light?
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Yes, plate beam splitters can be used with various types of light, including visible, infrared (IR), and ultraviolet (UV) light. The key is to select a plate beam splitter with a coating and substrate material that is suitable for the specific wavelength range of the light source being used. Different coatings are optimized for different spectral ranges to ensure maximum performance and efficiency.
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How do you choose the right plate beam splitter for your application?
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Choosing the right plate beam splitter involves considering several factors, such as the wavelength range of your light source, the desired splitting ratio (the percentage of light reflected versus transmitted), the size and thickness of the splitter to fit your optical setup, and the coating’s durability and resistance to the operating environment. It’s also important to consider the potential impact on the polarization state of your light, especially if polarization is critical for your application.
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What are the advantages of using a plate beam splitter in an optical system?
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The advantages of using a plate beam splitter include its simplicity and versatility, making it easy to integrate into various optical setups. Plate beam splitters offer a cost-effective solution for beam splitting without the need for complex optical systems. They are also available in a wide range of sizes, coatings, and splitting ratios, allowing for customization to meet specific application requirements. Additionally, plate beam splitters can provide a compact solution compared to cube beam splitters, which is advantageous in space-constrained setups.
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Connect with our multilingual technical sales team today to learn how Knight Optical’s high-quality custom plate beamsplitters and exceptional service can enhance your instrumentation and streamline your supply chain.
With our in-house state-of-the-art metrology laboratory you can be confident that your optical components will meet your requirements. You can find out more about our testing facilities here.
Operating for over 30 years
Knight Optical has been operating for over 30 years, with our managing director Colin Overton at the helm. Over this time, we have become a global leader in the production and distribution of scientific optical components and bringing quality into focus for all of our products and services that we provide.
Our 2022/2023 Catalogue
Inside Knight Optical’s catalogue you’ll find details of the industries we serve as well as the many other services we can offer. It also showcases hundreds of our most popular products, supported by useful technical information, to help you choose the right part for your application.
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