The material used in acetate glasses is CELLULOSE acetate, which is one of the most commonly used glasses materials. Acetate are divided into cutting type and pressed type according to different production craftsmanship, but at present, most of them are processed by cutting. In terms of the origin of acetate, acetates from France and Italy are better, but with the development of the technology, the quality of some China acetate manufacturers is also quite good, and they often have more color choices, such as Jinyu acetate and Jimei acetate, etc. Many middle to high grade acetate glasses are made from these high-quality acetate. Therefore, the quality of glasses produced from high-quality acetate is more trustworthy.

 

Below is a pair of acetate sunglasses produced by  cutting process. It is made of high-quality acetate made by the Italian Mazzucchelli, and is made by tumbling and hand polishing again and again.

 

Below is a pair of inflated sunglasses produced by molding pressing craftsmanship. It uses the high-quality marble series  acetate produced by our  domestic manufacturer Eleung, which is made through mold pressing technology, combined with traditional eyewear craftsmanship, then finished by multiple manual polishing and tumbling. 

Acetate glasses is characterized by high hardness and good gloss,it’s stylish and aesthetical, not easy to discolor and more durable. Different colors acetate can be laminated by professional skill, making a more colorful acetate. Especially the fashionable acetate sunglasses, with modern and classic frame shape, with streamlined and richly colored frames, perfectly achieving a seamless combination. Acetate glasses are also easier to match with clothing and are widely favored by fashionistas and students who pursue a quality life.

Below is a pair of acetate lamination optical frame.

 

Although acetate glasses have obvious advantages, they also have some shortcomings of the product itself. Due to the performance of the material itself, the service life of acetate glasses is shorter than metal glasses and titanium glasses. Acetate will deform after long-term use, which is also one of the factors causing rapid changes in the acetate glasses market. Because of deformation, their life cycle is generally shorter than glasses made of other materials.

 

 

The main production process of acetate glasses includes front frame production process, temple production process, frame and temple matching process, surface polishing process and finished product assembly process. The specific description is as follows:

 

 

Front frame production process is mainly a milling process that uses 4-axis and 5-axis CNC machines to process the acetate. According to the manufacturing process, CNC is first used to complete the milling of the internal shape of front frame, and then proceed with the milling of the external shape,it's equipment oriented professional production. The processes can be divided into frame cutting process, frame shape milling process , temple and frame tumbling process, front frame bending process, end piece assembly process(also called front frame and temple assembly), cleaning process, etc.

 

The frame cutting production process mainly cut large acetate block into sheets for each pair of spectacle frames, preparing material for the milling of the inner and outer shapes of front frames;

 

The inner and outer shape milling process of the spectacle frame mainly uses CNC equipment to mill and shape the block acetate, to get the desired front frame shape.

 

The end piece assembly process, also called the hinge insert process, first heat the temple then insert hinge on temple, providing a mainly installs the hinges on the frame through heating and extrusion, providing a mechanism for front frame and temples assembly;

 

The production process of front frame bending is mainly based on heating and extruding the front frame through a mold to bend the front frame into a shape close to the curve of the human face, making the frames more suitable for consumers to wear;

 

The last step in front frame processing is the cleaning production process, which mainly cleans the stains generated during the production and processing of the front frames to provide clean material input for the next production process.

 

 

The temple production process mainly uses semi-automatic equipment to operate the production. First, the temples are positioned and heated on a special machine through clamps or molds, and then shoot metal core into the acetate temples, which not only make the temple looks beautiful, but also get some intensity. The subdivision process can be divided into the temple cutting production process, the temple core shooting production process, the temple trademark engraving production process, the temple hinge sealing production process and the cleaning process.

 

The temple cutting production process mainly uses mechanical processing to divide large pieces material into small pieces and then get a temple shape, providing qualified material input for subsequent temple processing;

 

The temple core shooting process mainly involves positioning and heating the temples, and then using a cylinder to shoot the metal core into the acetate temples, so that the temples will be flexible and stronge while maintaining their appearance;

 

The temple trademark engraving process mainly uses CNC machine to laser out the shape of the  brand trademark on the temple surface, and then install the brand trademark into the groove; this step is also called precision laser. It including the engraving of the combination of different metal accessories and acetate frames.

 

The last step is the cleaning process. The cleaning process is mainly to clean the stains produced on the temples during the production process, and to provide material input for the roller polishing production process of the frames and temples surfaces.

 

 

The production process of matching front frames and temples is mainly to ensure that the qualified frames and temples are physically consistent with the production system, ensuring that the front frames and temples (left and right) of each production order are matched in quality and quantity, get ready for the next production process of the front frame and temple tumbling and polishing.

 

 

The tumbling production process of the front frame and temples mainly use small pieces of wood coated with oil other natural material to polish and grind them to smooth and shine the surface of the raw acetate frame . There are 4 phases of the tumbling based upon the size of the piece of wood which determine the degree of polishing: grinding tumbling, smoothing tumbling, polishing tumbling and shining tumbling.

 

The tumbling production process actually is a connection  between the front-end production process and the back-end production process. The front-end front frame and temple production are mechanical processing oriented, which changes the appearance of the product. It is a production process that uses wood pieces coated with oil and abrasives to process the surface of front frames and temples. After tumbling, the frame must be manually polished. This process is also divided into rough  polishing, shine polishing, fine polishing and titanium wax polishing. These processes must be closely follow with the tumbling processes.

 

 

The finished product assembly is a production process that assembles  such as front frames, temples, lenses, and decorations into a pair of finished glasses in accordance with operating sequences and quality requirements. The finished product assembly production process mainly includes temple cutting, front frame and temple assembly, grinding, polishing, cleaning, decorate, printing, lens mounting, frame adjustment and packaging.

 

The temple cutting production process mainly involves cutting the acetate temples through equipment so that the temples and frames maintain consistent, making them more suitable for consumers to wear;

 

The front frames and temples assembly production process mainly involves fix the front frames and temples together through screws;

 

The grinding and polishing production process is mainly buffing polishing, it  polish and smooth the connection between the temples and the front frame and keep the surface smooth, bright and beautiful;

 

The cleaning production process mainly uses ultrasonic waves to clean the stains remaining on the surface of the spectacle frame caused by the previous cutting, grinding and polishing processes;

 

Decoration is to attach gems or other small decorative parts to the surface of the glasses to make the surface of the glasses more beautiful;

 

The surface printing process is to print the frame size, model, production date and other information of the glasses on the inside of the temples, and some information will also be printed on the lenses;

 

The lens mounting process mainly involves assembling the cut and shaped lenses into a  frame to get a complete pair of glasses;

 

The frame adjustment process is to check the shape and function of the glasses to make them completely consistent with the design drawings;

 

The inspection process refers to 100% inspection of the adjusted finished glasses to ensure that the appearance and function of the glasses fully meet the request requirements.

 

The packaging production process is to put the finished glasses that meet the quality requirements into the glasses box with corresponding accessories, such as glasses cloth, instructions, etc., to complete the final packaging action.

 

BESTSEA is a professional OEM and ODM glasses manufacturing company with more than 18 years of experience in glasses design, R&D and manufacturing. Our main products include acetate glasses, metal glasses and titanium glasses, etc. We provide one-stop service from design to production for high-end glasses brands in Europe, America and Japan. Acetate glasses are one of our most competitive products. For the past few years, due to the impact of the epidemic and the Russia-Ukraine war on the world economy, many eyewear manufacturer have been adversely affected by that. Therefore, how to survive and develop better is a question that every eyewear company must seriously consider.

 

Especially today with the rapid development of science and technology, we have witnessed the innovation and evolution of countless traditional products, including acetate glasses, an indispensable vision correction tool and fashionable item in daily life. From thinness, fashion, intelligence, and the integration of environmental protection concepts, acetate glasses are undergoing an unprecedented revolution. In particular, the rise of environmental protection concepts has also had a profound impact on the glasses industry. Sustainability has become a global consensus, and eyewear manufacturers are beginning to seek and use recyclable or biodegradable materials to make frames. This not only reduces the impact on the environment, but also responds to consumer demand for green and environmentally friendly products.

 

Faced with these changes, eyewear manufacturers need to continue to innovate to meet the needs of the market and consumers. When designers pursue the balance between aesthetics and functionality, they must also consider the selection of materials and the application of technology. Investors should pay attention to industry dynamics, grasp development trends, and invest in companies that can lead the trend and comply with the principles of sustainable development.

 

The future of acetate glasses is full of endless possibilities. It is no longer just a simple vision correction tool, but has become a platform to showcase the integration of technology, fashion and environmental protection concepts. With the continuous advancement of technology and the diversification of consumer needs, the innovation path of plate glasses continues, and its development prospects are worth looking forward to.