ISO 10110-14:2018

Overview

ISO 10110-14:2018 - "Optics and photonics - Preparation of drawings for optical elements and systems - Part 14: Wavefront deformation tolerance" defines how to indicate permissible wavefront deformation tolerance on technical drawings for optical elements and assemblies. It is part of the ISO 10110 series for optical drawing indications and applies to transmitted or reflected wavefronts, including systems with general surfaces (see ISO 10110-19). The standard covers functional tolerancing of single‑pass wavefront deformation (tilt is excluded) and provides rules for units, wavelength specification, and the drawing code format.

Key topics and requirements

• Scope of tolerance: Specifies permissible departure of the actual wavefront from the desired shape (single‑pass). Tilt of the wavefront is excluded.
• Manufacturer responsibility: A wavefront tolerance can be specified without individual surface tolerances - the manufacturer must ensure the delivered wavefront meets the tolerance. If both surface and wavefront tolerances are given, both must be met.
• Units and wavelength: Nanometres are the preferred unit; use of wave units (waves) is allowed only if the reference wavelength is explicitly stated on the drawing.
• Measured quantities: Tolerances may be given for power deviation (requires image location), irregularity, rotationally invariant irregularity, and RMS measures (rms total, rms irregularity, rms rotationally varying irregularity). Definitions and evaluation methods are provided in ISO 14999‑4.
• Testing note: For double‑pass interferometric testing, observed deformation often corresponds to twice the single‑pass deformation; the standard explains how to account for this.
• Drawing indication: Wavefront tolerances are indicated by the code number 13/ with specified forms (examples: 13/A(B/C); λ = E or 13/RMSx < D; λ = E). Additional forms include PV and robust PV, and representation using Zernike coefficients.

Applications and who uses it

ISO 10110-14 is used when specifying functional optical performance on drawings for:

• Optical designers and systems engineers defining system tolerances
• Manufacturing engineers and optical fabricators accepting production parts
• Metrology and QA teams performing interferometry and non‑interferometric testing
• Procurement and compliance reviewers ensuring contractual tolerances
• CAD/drawing preparers and technical illustrators encoding tolerances in ISO 10110 format

Typical applications include lenses, mirrors, optical assemblies, imaging systems and instruments where controlled wavefront quality affects image or beam performance.

Related standards

• ISO 10110 series (drawing conventions)
• ISO 10110‑1 (General)
• ISO 10110‑5 (surface form tolerances)
• ISO 10110‑19 (general surfaces)
• ISO 14999‑4 (interferometric measurement and interpretation of tolerances)

Keywords: ISO 10110-14:2018, wavefront deformation tolerance, optics and photonics, optical drawings, interferometry, nanometres, PV, RMS, Zernike, optical tolerancing.