Technology
What is Infrared Optics?
A comprehensive guide to infrared optical components, materials, and applications across industries.
Custom IR & Visible Optics · Single Source
Precision optics for
mission-critical systems
CZ Si and Ge, grown in-house. Boules up to 200 mm.
Ground, lapped, polished to figure.
SPDT on a Moore Nanotech 450 UPL. 5-axis.
Coatings in-house — AR, BBAR, DLC.
Zygo ZeGage. Taylor Hobson PGI 3XL. FTIR.
Vertically integrated. Crystal to crate, same building.
Overview
Vertically Integrated
Optics Manufacturing
Crystal growth through final metrology — seven processes, one facility. No subcontracting. Full lot traceability. Shorter lead times because nothing ships between buildings.
30+
Years in production
200mm
Max optic diameter
7
Core processes
6
Industries served
Products
What We Make
Four product lines. IR and visible. Custom geometry, material, and coating — built to print.
Infrared Optics
Spherical, aspherical, diffractive, and freeform IR lenses, windows, and mirrors. Diamond-turned on Moore Nanotech systems in Si, Ge, ZnS, CaF2, and IR plastics.
Explore IR Optics
Visible Optics
CNC ground and polished spherical lenses, windows, and mirrors on optical glass and fused silica. For cinema, machine vision, medical, and industrial systems.
Explore VIS Optics
Witness Samples
Precision test pieces for thin film coating verification. SSP, DSP, and wedged configurations in Si, Ge, ZnSe, CaF2, fused silica, and optical glass.
Explore Samples
Opto-mechanical Assemblies
Complete integration of precision optics with mechanical housings. Lens assemblies, mirror systems, and imaging objectives — designed, built, and tested in-house.
Explore AssembliesWhy Cimcoop
Why Single-Source
One supplier. Crystal growth through coated assembly. No subcontracting, no split lots, no finger-pointing between vendors.
01
Vertically Integrated
- Crystal growing, diamond turning, CNC grinding, polishing, centering, coating, and metrology
- Single NCR chain. One quality system. Every process step traceable to the same lot record.
02
Production Since 1991
- Defense, aerospace, cinema, medical, CO₂ laser — shipped and qualified
- Repeat orders across programs from prototype through volume
03
Fast Turnaround
- 6–10 weeks, order to shipment. Standard.
- No outsourced steps to wait on. Lead time is ours to control.
04
Engineer-to-Engineer
- Dedicated project engineer. Direct line, not a sales desk.
- DFM feedback on your drawings before we quote.
Where Our Optics Work.
IR and visible optics across six verticals. Defense, cinema, thermal, machine vision, medical, CO₂ laser. Application-specific geometries, coatings, and environmental specs.
Defense & Aerospace
ITAR-compliant IR optics for targeting, surveillance, and guidance systems. Diamond-turned on Moore Nanotech platforms.
See Cimcoop's defense and aerospace IR opticsCinema & TV
Custom spherical optics for professional cinema lenses and broadcast systems. CNC-polished for supreme surface quality.
See Cimcoop's cinema and TV spherical opticsThermal Imaging
MWIR and LWIR lenses and substrates for thermal cameras and sensors. Ge, Si, ZnS, ZnSe, and CaF2.
See Cimcoop's thermal imaging lenses and substratesMachine Vision
High-precision VIS and SWIR components for automated inspection and quality control systems.
See Cimcoop's machine vision lenses and windowsMedical
Optics for medical imaging, diagnostics, and surgical devices. Full traceability and certification.
See Cimcoop's medical device opticsCO2 Lasers
Silicon substrates and finished optics for high-power CO2 laser cutting and engraving systems.
See Cimcoop's silicon optics for CO₂ lasersHow We Build It.
CZ crystal growth. SPDT. CNC grinding and polishing. Pitch polishing. Centering. Coating. Metrology. Each process below.
Diamond Turning
Moore Nanotech single-point diamond turning. Aspherical, diffractive, and freeform IR surfaces.
CNC Grinding
Spherical and flat surface generation on optical glass, fused silica, and IR crystals.
CNC Polishing
Glass and fused silica polishing. Surface figure accuracy to λ/10.
Pitch Polishing
Supreme surface quality for demanding visible and UV applications. Sub-angstrom roughness.
CNC Centering
Precision lens centering up to 200mm diameter. Tolerance ±0.01mm.
Metrology
Taylor Hobson and Zygo interferometry. Full surface characterization and documentation.
Resources
Technical Resources
Application notes, material comparisons, and process guides.
Manufacturing
Diamond Turning vs CNC Polishing
Understanding the differences between single-point diamond turning and CNC polishing for optical fabrication.
Materials
Germanium vs Silicon for IR Lenses
Comparing the optical properties, thermal performance, and ideal use cases of Ge and Si substrates.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of optical components does Cimcoop manufacture?
Cimcoop manufactures custom infrared and visible optical components including lenses (spherical, aspherical, diffractive, freeform), windows, mirrors, lens blanks, witness samples, and opto-mechanical assemblies. Materials include silicon, germanium, zinc sulfide, calcium fluoride, chalcogenide glass, optical glass, and fused silica.
Where is Cimcoop located?
Cimcoop is headquartered in Sofia, Bulgaria, with a 30,000 sq ft production facility in Tsaratsovo, Bulgaria. The company serves OEM customers on every continent.
What certifications does Cimcoop hold?
Cimcoop is ISO 9001:2015 certified, ITAR registered (via TAA with Naked Optics Corp.), and ADS SC21 accredited for aerospace and defense supply chain excellence.
What is Cimcoop's lead time?
Standard lead time is 6–10 weeks from order to shipment. Expedited options are available for urgent prototype and production runs.
Does Cimcoop grow its own crystals?
Yes. Cimcoop grows single-crystal silicon and germanium ingots in-house, providing full material control from raw ingot to finished optical component.
Last Updated: March 2026
Send Us Your Print.
Send us your specs. Our engineering team will get back to you within 48 hours with a detailed quote and DFM feedback.