ISO 10110-11:2016

Overview

ISO 10110-11:2016 - "Optics and photonics - Preparation of drawings for optical elements and systems - Part 11: Non-toleranced data" defines the default (permissible) deviations and material imperfections to apply when optical drawings do not explicitly state tolerances. It is part of the ISO 10110 series used to present design and functional requirements for optical elements and systems for manufacturing and inspection. The values are intentionally conservative (“loose”) defaults, dependent on part size, and may be overridden or relaxed on the drawing as required.

Key Topics

• Non-toleranced defaults: Specifies default values to apply when drawings omit tolerance data (e.g., thickness, clear aperture to part edge, diameter limits).
• Size-dependent limits: Default tolerances vary by maximum diagonal/diameter ranges (examples in the standard: clear aperture to edge, thickness tolerances, principal refractive index tolerance).
• Material properties: Default magnitudes for principal refractive index (e.g., ±0.001 for smaller parts), Abbé (V‑number) tolerance, and guidance on which wavelengths to use for assessment.
• Material imperfections: References and default acceptances for stress birefringence (ISO 10110-2), bubbles and inclusions (ISO 10110-3), and inhomogeneity/striae (ISO 10110-4).
• Surface and assembly characteristics: Default references for surface form tolerances (ISO 10110-5), centring tolerances (ISO 10110-6), and surface imperfections (ISO 10110-7). Note: surface texture (ISO 10110-8) must always be specified on drawings and has no implicit default.
• Use as drawing simplification: Where defaults are appropriate, the drawing may omit explicit indications to simplify documentation.

Applications

• Optical designers and drafters: Use ISO 10110-11 to decide when drawing annotations can be omitted and which default tolerances apply.
• Manufacturers and fabricators: Apply the standard’s defaults for production acceptance when drawings lack specific tolerances.
• Quality inspectors and metrology labs: Use the prescribed defaults for inspection criteria and acceptance testing.
• Procurement and project managers: Reference default criteria in contracts and purchase orders when suppliers receive non‑toleranced drawings.
• When to use: Ideal for traditional optical fabrication workflows where “loose” default values are acceptable, and for ensuring consistent interpretation of incomplete drawings.

Related Standards

• ISO 10110 (all parts) - Preparation of drawings for optical elements and systems
  • ISO 10110-2: Stress birefringence
  • ISO 10110-3: Bubbles and inclusions
  • ISO 10110-4: Inhomogeneity and striae
  • ISO 10110-5: Surface form tolerances
  • ISO 10110-6: Centring tolerances
  • ISO 10110-7: Surface imperfection tolerances
  • ISO 10110-8: Surface texture (must be specified)
  • ISO 10110-17: Laser irradiation damage threshold
• ISO 12123: Specification of raw optical glass

ISO 10110-11:2016 is essential for consistent interpretation of non‑toleranced optical drawings and helps bridge communication between design, manufacturing, and inspection in optics and photonics projects.