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Custom Corner Cube Prisms

Corner Cube Retro Reflector Prisms

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Find out more about our custom corner cube prisms

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Global leaders in custom optical solutions
Internationally recognised
All optical components 100% QA checked
ISO14001 & ISO9001 certified

Knight Optical supply a range of custom high-precision retro-reflectors offering excellent parallelism between the incoming and exiting beams. We are able to make custom corner cube retro reflector prisms in all types of materials and to any sized aperture to create your unique custom corner cube.

We can supply the prisms mounted and unmounted for seamless integration into your application. Our custom mounted type is housed in a metal holder with an L-bracket for fixed installations, enabling the prism to be fixed to a wall for distance measurements.

Corner cube prisms are able to reflect an incoming beam of light by 180° regardless of the angle of incidence. The prism is made up of three roof surfaces and one flat circular hypotenuse surface. Corner cube prisms are used for beam steering and surveying applications. Other applications relating to corner cubes are rail and tunnel surveying, building and construction surveying, enviromental and structual monitoring, mining conditions monitoring, geospacial engineering.

Knight Optical supply high quality custom mounted corner cube prisms made to your exact specification. Every component is individually tested by our highly skilled technicians in our state of art metrology lab to ensure all components meet our high quality standards. All prisms are tested on our Trioptics Prism Master capable of accuracy to 3 arc seconds.

Contact our multilingual technical sales team and discover how Knight Optical’s high quality custom mounted and unmounted corner cube prisms and service can improve your instrumentation and supply chain experience.

Corner Cube Retro Reflector Prisms

Speak to our experts about your Custom Corner Cube Prisms needs today

Call +44 (0)1622 859444 Call +1 401 583 7846

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Dive into the forefront of optical solutions. Got questions about an optical product? Reach out now and let our expertise guide you.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    A corner cube prism, also known as a retroreflector prism, is an optical device designed to reflect any incoming light back to its source with minimal scatter. It consists of three mutually perpendicular surfaces, forming a corner that reflects light back towards the source, regardless of the angle of incidence. This unique property is due to the internal reflection within the prism, making corner cube prisms highly efficient for applications requiring precise light direction and alignment.

    Corner cube reflectors differ from standard mirrors in their ability to reflect light back to its source regardless of the angle at which light hits the surface. While a standard mirror reflects light in a single direction based on the angle of incidence, a corner cube reflector uses its geometric design to redirect light back along its original path. This makes corner cube reflectors ideal for applications where the precise return of light is crucial, such as in distance measurement or optical signalling.

    Corner cube prisms are used in a wide range of applications across technology and research fields due to their unique reflecting properties. They are commonly found in surveying instruments, where they serve as precise reference points for distance measurements using electronic distance metres (EDMs). In space missions, corner cube reflectors placed on the lunar surface enable precise measurements of the Earth-Moon distance. Additionally, they are used in optical communication systems, laser rangefinders, and various scientific experiments requiring accurate light reflection and direction.

    Yes, corner cube optics are extensively used in safety and signalling devices. Their ability to reflect light back to its source regardless of the incident angle makes them ideal for use in road signs, bicycle reflectors, and safety clothing. This retroreflective property ensures that light from vehicle headlights is reflected back towards the driver, significantly improving visibility and safety in low-light conditions. Additionally, corner cube reflectors are used in maritime navigation buoys and runway lights at airports to enhance visibility and safety.

    Corner cube prisms are typically made from materials such as glass, acrylic, or other optical-grade plastics. The choice of material depends on the application’s requirements, including durability, optical clarity, and environmental resistance. Glass is preferred for high-precision applications due to its excellent optical properties and stability. Acrylic and other plastics offer a lighter weight and greater impact resistance, making them suitable for safety and signalling devices where durability and cost-effectiveness are critical.

    The design of a corner cube retroreflector enhances its performance by ensuring that light is reflected back to its source with minimal deviation, regardless of the light’s angle of incidence. This is achieved through the precise geometric arrangement of its three perpendicular faces, which cause the light to undergo multiple reflections within the prism. This design not only improves the efficiency of light return but also minimises the loss of signal strength, making corner cube retroreflectors exceptionally reliable and valuable in optical systems requiring high precision and alignment.


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    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.









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