Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about working with Westech — how to request a quote, what Westech can design and manufacture, and the compliance standards behind it. If your question isn't answered here, an engineer will answer it directly.
General
Who Westech works with, and how it can help if you are already buying optics elsewhere.
Westech Optical can serve any industry that requires precision optical components or systems. The principles of optics do not change based on the industry or application — the design is what differs.
Yes. Westech is glad to evaluate your existing product, discuss how you are using it, and establish what you do and do not like about its performance.
Westech's engineers take that information and create the most cost-efficient design possible. Prototypes can be made quickly for approval before moving to full-scale production.
Requests For Quote
How to get a price from Westech, whether you have finished drawings, a catalog part number, or a set of requirements.
There are three ways to request a quote from Westech, depending on what you already have:
- Upload your drawings through Upload Your Designs.
- For catalog optics, email the manufacturer name, part number and quantity required to [email protected]. Westech typically responds within 24 hours.
- For custom optics, complete and submit the Submit Specification Sheet form.
For engineering assistance, email [email protected] or call 585-377-2490 ext 303.
Capabilities
What Westech can design, manufacture and assemble — the materials it works in, the wavelengths it covers, and the volumes it supports.
Yes, Westech manufactures custom optics. There are three ways to buy a lens from Westech:
- A custom design — either supplied by you, or designed by Westech.
- An existing design — Westech holds thousands of designs in its design library.
- An existing design modified to meet your specific needs.
Westech's engineering team includes both optical designers and opto-mechanical designers to complete new design requests for customers. Submit your specifications today.
Yes. Westech can quote most competitors' catalog items. Simply provide your Westech sales representative with the manufacturer and part number you are interested in, and a quote typically follows within 24 hours.
Westech does not publish a catalog because of the high overhead in publishing, managing and stocking thousands of items. Westech is a lean company, so those fixed costs are not passed on to customers, which makes its pricing on catalog items very competitive. The item can also be customized to fit your exact needs.
Email Westech at [email protected] today.
Yes, Westech provides optical metal fabrication as well as complete optical system and sub-assembly work, and tests the optics once assembled.
Handling optics during assembly is where they are most easily damaged. Westech's team is specially trained to clean, align and assemble optics without scratching, chipping or contaminating the assembly during the process.
No, Westech does not manufacture plastic optics. Westech works in glass, using a variety of specialty optical glass and filter glass from Schott Glass, Corning (fused silica and Pyrex), Ohara, Hoya and CDGM.
Westech's capabilities stretch from the UV through to the near-infrared wavelengths.
Yes. Westech specializes in designing and manufacturing high-volume optics, and can take a project from design to prototype to production. Westech's designs are optimized for manufacturability, repeatability and cost efficiency.
Producing high-volume optics creates manufacturing efficiencies that reduce both material and production costs, which lowers unit prices for customers. Consult your Westech sales representative about long-term blanket orders to take advantage of those savings.
Policies and Regulations Compliance
The compliance standards Westech's products are held to, and the policies its business operates under.
Yes. Westech maintains an Environmental, Social and Governance policy covering how it manages its responsibilities beyond financial performance. It outlines the company's commitment to sustainable, ethical and responsible business practices, and serves as a framework for decision-making, risk management and accountability.
Westech strives to achieve RoHS and REACH compliance across all of its lens designs and product offerings, and in 99% of cases that compliance is easily achieved or exceeded.
Because of the complex nature of optics, some optical components must use restricted substances to maintain the effective refractive index, partial dispersion and UV transmittance required for certain technical applications. If your optics require RoHS and REACH compliance, it is best to communicate that in advance.
Some questions need an engineer, not an FAQ
Tolerances you're unsure are achievable, a coating that has to survive a specific environment, a volume you're trying to cost — those answers depend on your drawing. Send it over at whatever stage it has reached and Westech's engineers will come back on what holds, what is worth reconsidering, and what it takes to build.
Send specs and engineering questions to John at [email protected]