Custom Reticle Manufacturing

Precision Micro-Patterning for Military & Commercial Optics

Precision Micro-Patterning for Military & Commercial Optics

Reticles are the decision layer of any precision optic. Whether deployed in a battlefield environment or on a long-range competition platform, reticle clarity, durability, and repeatability directly determine targeting accuracy.

Optex Systems is establishing an advanced reticle manufacturing line at its Applied Optics Center (AOC) in Texas — expanding vertical integration into precision micro-patterned optical components.

Advanced Reticle Technologies

Planned reticle capabilities include:

  • Chrome Deposition – Simple and complex micro-patterning
  • Chrome + Etched & Filled Combinations
  • Illuminated Reticles with Bonded Cover Windows
  • Diffraction Grating Reticles

Combined chrome and etched reticles are engineered with:

  • Titanium dioxide-filled etched regions
  • Optically bonded cover windows for structural durability
  • High-contrast, low-reflectance performance

This ensures improved clarity, environmental resistance, and repeatable alignment under recoil and temperature variation.

Three-Pronged Manufacturing Strategy

To ensure supply chain resilience and long-term capability, Optex is executing a three-stage strategy:

  1. Establish a domestic U.S. supply source for chrome and chrome/etched reticle plates
  2. Establish a parallel sourcing channel in Japan
  3. Develop full in-house reticle manufacturing processes in collaboration with UTD laboratories

This approach strengthens domestic manufacturing control while supporting defense primes and leading commercial optics manufacturers.

Why Vertical Reticle Integration Matters

Reticles must maintain:

  • Dimensional accuracy at micron-level tolerances
  • Optical alignment stability
  • Coating compatibility
  • Shock and vibration resistance

By integrating reticle production within AOC’s thin-film and optical bonding infrastructure, Optex ensures performance consistency from coating through final assembly.

From military optics to high-end commercial platforms, Optex reticles are engineered for precision without compromise.

Specifications

Engineering tomorrow’s security