How is Eyeglass Frame Diamond Setting Process

For fashion and unique, the top quality eyeglasses brand will choose to develop glasses with diamond. As known, it's difficult and need to take higher cost, currently, the more mature processes involve setting diamonds on metal surfaces, plastic (acetate) surfaces, and lens surfaces make it easier for glasses with diamond. Here will introduce how is Eyeglass Frame Diamond Setting Process: During processing, the thickness must be determined by considering the size of each diamond and the depth of the holes drilled into the material surface. Today we mainly introduce the process on metal surface, the basic process is: Mold opening --- Bending and drilling (depending on the actual situation, such as the bridge area) --- Cleaning --- Diamond setting --- Drying --- UV coating --- Drying.

Mold Opening

To set diamonds on a metal surface, holes must be created on the surface. The most ideal solution currently is to use a mold for direct stamping. However, if the number of diamonds is small, drilling with a drill press can also be considered. When opening the mold, pay attention to the following:

A. If there are diamonds in areas that need to be bent, consider that the holes will be stretched and enlarged during the bending process. Therefore, the holes in the bending area (3-4 holes) should be made shallow initially and then deepened after bending to ensure uniform hole sizes.

B. The shape, depth, and angle of the holes should be designed according to the diamonds to be set. Additionally, allowance for polishing should be reserved. The diagram below shows the ideal hole specifications after polishing and setting the diamonds (using diamonds with a height of 1.2mm, a maximum outer diameter of Φ2.0mm, and a metal base angle of 90°). The depth of the hole is generally the height of the diamond base plus 0.4mm, ensuring the diamond base is fully submerged in the hole. Ideally, the entire diamond should fit completely within the hole, ensuring both the aesthetic appeal and stability of the diamond.

Bending and Drilling

As mentioned earlier, if diamonds are to be set on the bridge, this step must be completed first. Then, use a drill press to drill the holes on the bridge to the required dimensions. This step is crucial due to the high demand for dimensional stability.

After setting the diamonds, the frame should not be twisted, as this could severely affect the stability of the diamonds. Therefore, the frame must be handled according to requirements before setting the diamonds.

Cleaning

To reduce the impact of impurities on the adhesive's effectiveness, the frame should be cleaned using an ultrasonic cleaner for about 5 minutes before setting the diamonds to remove any impurities.

Diamond Setting

A. Use a toothpick to manually drip the prepared adhesive into the cleaned metal holes. The amount of adhesive should be moderate; too little adhesive will cause the diamonds to fall out, while too much will affect the appearance. Ideally, the hole should be filled to about 80%, but since the adhesive is thick, it is difficult to control the amount. Therefore, we choose to fill the hole completely for easier operation. However, excessive adhesive should be avoided, as it will require a longer drying time, which can cause the adhesive to yellow. When dripping the adhesive, ensure it has not dried out and is still usable (refer to the previous section for the adhesive mixing ratio and precautions).

B. Place the diamond into the hole with the appropriate amount of adhesive using a toothpick. Using a toothpick is slower than using fingers, but fingers may have sweat, which can affect the adhesive's effectiveness. A toothpick with adhesive can easily pick up the diamond. Do not use a wet toothpick, as this can cause the adhesive to turn white. When placing the diamond, ensure it is level and check if any adhesive overflows. If no adhesive overflows, it means there is not enough adhesive, and more should be added. After setting all the diamonds on the frame, check if they are level. A tilted diamond not only affects the appearance but also becomes the main cause of the diamond falling out.

Drying

Place the glasses frame in an oven to dry. The oven temperature should be controlled at around 40°C, and the frame should be baked for two hours. Whether the adhesive is fully dry can be felt by touch. If too much adhesive was applied during the dripping process, it might not dry completely. If the adhesive is not fully dry and comes into contact with hands or other objects, it can smudge the originally transparent adhesive, resulting in defective products. If the adhesive is not fully dry before applying the coating, it may also appear less transparent, affecting the appearance. If the baking continues, the adhesive may turn yellow, which is also unacceptable as a defect. Alternatively, the frame can be left to dry naturally in the air, which ensures thorough drying without yellowing, but this method has not been experimentally verified, so its actual effectiveness is unknown.

Applying Coating

Evenly apply a layer of coating over the diamonds.The main purpose of applying the coating is to enhance the stability of the set diamonds. The coating layer should not be too thick. A specific inspection method is to look at the upper rim of the frame horizontally; visible wave lines should be apparent, indicating that the space between two diamonds is not completely filled with adhesive and coating. If the surface appears flat, it will likely require rework.

Later we will introduce the glasses with diamond on plastic (acetate) surfaces, and lens surfaces.