What is the difference between refractive and diffractive line generators?

YOUR PRIVACY IS IMPORTANT TO US

Edmund Optics uses cookies to optimize and enhance the features and content on our website. Click “OK” for the full user experience, you can view additional information on the cookies we use by clicking the “Details” button. We do NOT sell your information from marketing cookies, we use it to improve ONLY YOUR experience with Edmund Optics.

Details

Necessary cookies help make a website usable by enabling basic functions like page navigation and access to secure areas of the website. The website cannot function properly without these cookies.
- Cookiebot
  1
  Learn more about this provider
  CookieConsentStores the user's cookie consent state for the current domain
  Maximum Storage Duration: 1 yearType: HTTP Cookie
- Google
  3
  Learn more about this provider
  Some of the data collected by this provider is for the purposes of personalization and measuring advertising effectiveness.
  test_cookieUsed to check if the user's browser supports cookies.
  Maximum Storage Duration: 1 dayType: HTTP Cookie
  rc::aThis cookie is used to distinguish between humans and bots. This is beneficial for the website, in order to make valid reports on the use of their website.
  Maximum Storage Duration: PersistentType: HTML Local Storage
  rc::cThis cookie is used to distinguish between humans and bots.
  Maximum Storage Duration: SessionType: HTML Local Storage
- edmundoptics.com
  eogo.edmundoptics.com
  radar.cloudflare.com
  3
  __cf_bm [x3]This cookie is used to distinguish between humans and bots. This is beneficial for the website, in order to make valid reports on the use of their website.
  Maximum Storage Duration: 1 dayType: HTTP Cookie
- eogo.edmundoptics.com
  1
  BIGipServer#Used to distribute traffic to the website on several servers in order to optimise response times.
  Maximum Storage Duration: SessionType: HTTP Cookie
- productimages.edmundoptics.com
  www.edmundoptics.ca
  4
  AWSALB [x2]Registers which server-cluster is serving the visitor. This is used in context with load balancing, in order to optimize user experience.
  Maximum Storage Duration: 7 daysType: HTTP Cookie
  AWSALBCORS [x2]Registers which server-cluster is serving the visitor. This is used in context with load balancing, in order to optimize user experience.
  Maximum Storage Duration: 7 daysType: HTTP Cookie
- service.mtcaptcha.com
  1
  mtv1ConfSumThis cookie is used to distinguish between humans and bots.
  Maximum Storage Duration: SessionType: HTTP Cookie
- www.edmundoptics.ca
  3
  .AspNetCore.Antiforgery.#Helps prevent Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) attacks.
  Maximum Storage Duration: SessionType: HTTP Cookie
  .AspNetCore.Mvc.CookieTempDataProviderPreserves the visitor's session state across page requests.
  Maximum Storage Duration: SessionType: HTTP Cookie
  UMB_SESSIONStores domain prefix to determine whether it holds https or http URL properties.
  Maximum Storage Duration: SessionType: HTTP Cookie
Preference cookies enable a website to remember information that changes the way the website behaves or looks, like your preferred language or the region that you are in.
- LiveChat
  3
  Learn more about this provider
  __lc_cidNecessary for the functionality of the website's chat-box function.
  Maximum Storage Duration: 400 daysType: HTTP Cookie
  __lc_cstNecessary for the functionality of the website's chat-box function.
  Maximum Storage Duration: 400 daysType: HTTP Cookie
  __oauth_redirect_detectorAllows the website to recoqnise the visitor, in order to optimize the chat-box functionality.
  Maximum Storage Duration: 1 dayType: HTTP Cookie
Statistic cookies help website owners to understand how visitors interact with websites by collecting and reporting information anonymously.
- Convert Insight
  4
  Learn more about this provider
  conv_variationsThis cookie is used by the website’s operator in context with multi-variate testing. This is a tool used to combine or change content on the website. This allows the website to find the best variation/edition of the site.
  Maximum Storage Duration: PersistentType: HTML Local Storage
  _conv_rThis cookie is used as a referral-cookie that stores the visitor’s profile – the cookie is overwritten when the visitor re-enters the website and new information on the visitor is collected and stored.
  Maximum Storage Duration: SessionType: HTTP Cookie
  _conv_sThis cookie contains an ID string on the current session. This contains non-personal information on what subpages the visitor enters – this information is used to optimize the visitor's experience.
  Maximum Storage Duration: 1 dayType: HTTP Cookie
  _conv_vThis cookie is used to identify the frequency of visits and how long the visitor is on the website. The cookie is also used to determine how many and which subpages the visitor visits on a website – this information can be used by the website to optimize the domain and its subpages.
  Maximum Storage Duration: 6 monthsType: HTTP Cookie
- Livechat
  1
  Learn more about this provider
  _livechat_has_visitedIdentifies the visitor across devices and visits, in order to optimize the chat-box function on the website.
  Maximum Storage Duration: PersistentType: HTML Local Storage
Marketing cookies are used to track visitors across websites. The intention is to display ads that are relevant and engaging for the individual user and thereby more valuable for publishers and third party advertisers.
- Convert Insight
  2
  Learn more about this provider
  conv_randThis cookie is used by the website’s operator in context with multi-variate testing. This is a tool used to combine or change content on the website. This allows the website to find the best variation/edition of the site.
  Maximum Storage Duration: PersistentType: HTML Local Storage
  _conv_sptestThis cookie is used by the website’s operator in context with multi-variate testing. This is a tool used to combine or change content on the website. This allows the website to find the best variation/edition of the site.
  Maximum Storage Duration: SessionType: HTTP Cookie
- Google
  8
  Learn more about this provider
  Some of the data collected by this provider is for the purposes of personalization and measuring advertising effectiveness.
  IDEPending
  Maximum Storage Duration: 400 daysType: HTTP Cookie
  _gaUsed to send data to Google Analytics about the visitor's device and behavior. Tracks the visitor across devices and marketing channels.
  Maximum Storage Duration: 25 monthsType: HTTP Cookie
  _ga_#Used to send data to Google Analytics about the visitor's device and behavior. Tracks the visitor across devices and marketing channels.
  Maximum Storage Duration: 25 monthsType: HTTP Cookie
  _gcl_auUsed by Google AdSense for experimenting with advertisement efficiency across websites using their services.
  Maximum Storage Duration: 3 monthsType: HTTP Cookie
  ads/ga-audiencesUsed by Google AdWords to re-engage visitors that are likely to convert to customers based on the visitor's online behaviour across websites.
  Maximum Storage Duration: SessionType: Pixel Tracker
  NIDPending
  Maximum Storage Duration: 6 monthsType: HTTP Cookie
  pagead/1p-user-list/#Pending
  Maximum Storage Duration: SessionType: Pixel Tracker
  pagead/gen_204/Pending
  Maximum Storage Duration: SessionType: Pixel Tracker
- YouTube
  22
  Learn more about this provider
  #-#Used to track user’s interaction with embedded content.
  Maximum Storage Duration: SessionType: HTML Local Storage
  __Secure-ROLLOUT_TOKENPending
  Maximum Storage Duration: 180 daysType: HTTP Cookie
  iU5q-!O9@$Registers a unique ID to keep statistics of what videos from YouTube the user has seen.
  Maximum Storage Duration: SessionType: HTML Local Storage
  LAST_RESULT_ENTRY_KEYUsed to track user’s interaction with embedded content.
  Maximum Storage Duration: SessionType: HTTP Cookie
  LogsDatabaseV2:V#||LogsRequestsStoreUsed to track user’s interaction with embedded content.
  Maximum Storage Duration: PersistentType: IndexedDB
  nextIdUsed to track user’s interaction with embedded content.
  Maximum Storage Duration: SessionType: HTTP Cookie
  remote_sidNecessary for the implementation and functionality of YouTube video-content on the website.
  Maximum Storage Duration: SessionType: HTTP Cookie
  requestsUsed to track user’s interaction with embedded content.
  Maximum Storage Duration: SessionType: HTTP Cookie
  ServiceWorkerLogsDatabase#SWHealthLogNecessary for the implementation and functionality of YouTube video-content on the website.
  Maximum Storage Duration: PersistentType: IndexedDB
  TESTCOOKIESENABLEDUsed to track user’s interaction with embedded content.
  Maximum Storage Duration: 1 dayType: HTTP Cookie
  VISITOR_INFO1_LIVEPending
  Maximum Storage Duration: 180 daysType: HTTP Cookie
  VISITOR_PRIVACY_METADATAStores the user's cookie consent state for the current domain
  Maximum Storage Duration: 180 daysType: HTTP Cookie
  YSCPending
  Maximum Storage Duration: SessionType: HTTP Cookie
  ytidb::LAST_RESULT_ENTRY_KEYUsed to track user’s interaction with embedded content.
  Maximum Storage Duration: PersistentType: HTML Local Storage
  YtIdbMeta#databasesUsed to track user’s interaction with embedded content.
  Maximum Storage Duration: PersistentType: IndexedDB
  yt-remote-cast-availableStores the user's video player preferences using embedded YouTube video
  Maximum Storage Duration: SessionType: HTML Local Storage
  yt-remote-cast-installedStores the user's video player preferences using embedded YouTube video
  Maximum Storage Duration: SessionType: HTML Local Storage
  yt-remote-connected-devicesStores the user's video player preferences using embedded YouTube video
  Maximum Storage Duration: PersistentType: HTML Local Storage
  yt-remote-device-idStores the user's video player preferences using embedded YouTube video
  Maximum Storage Duration: PersistentType: HTML Local Storage
  yt-remote-fast-check-periodStores the user's video player preferences using embedded YouTube video
  Maximum Storage Duration: SessionType: HTML Local Storage
  yt-remote-session-appStores the user's video player preferences using embedded YouTube video
  Maximum Storage Duration: SessionType: HTML Local Storage
  yt-remote-session-nameStores the user's video player preferences using embedded YouTube video
  Maximum Storage Duration: SessionType: HTML Local Storage
Unclassified cookies are cookies that we are in the process of classifying, together with the providers of individual cookies.
- Google
  1
  Learn more about this provider
  Some of the data collected by this provider is for the purposes of personalization and measuring advertising effectiveness.
  _gcl_lsPending
  Maximum Storage Duration: PersistentType: HTML Local Storage
- Livechat
  2
  Learn more about this provider
  @@lc_auth_token:3b0f44ba-5eb5-4bb1-a9e1-2214776a186bPending
  Maximum Storage Duration: PersistentType: HTML Local Storage
  3b0f44ba-5eb5-4bb1-a9e1-2214776a186b:statePending
  Maximum Storage Duration: PersistentType: HTML Local Storage
- service.mtcaptcha.com
  2
  jsVPending
  Maximum Storage Duration: SessionType: HTTP Cookie
  mtv1PulsePending
  Maximum Storage Duration: SessionType: HTTP Cookie

Cookie declaration last updated on 3/27/25 by Cookiebot

[#IABV2_TITLE#]

[#IABV2_BODY_INTRO#]

[#IABV2_BODY_LEGITIMATE_INTEREST_INTRO#]

[#IABV2_BODY_PREFERENCE_INTRO#]

[#IABV2_BODY_PURPOSES_INTRO#]

[#IABV2_BODY_PURPOSES#]

[#IABV2_BODY_FEATURES_INTRO#]

[#IABV2_BODY_FEATURES#]

[#IABV2_BODY_PARTNERS_INTRO#]

[#IABV2_BODY_PARTNERS#]

About

Cookies are small text files that can be used by websites to make a user's experience more efficient.

The law states that we can store cookies on your device if they are strictly necessary for the operation of this site. For all other types of cookies we need your permission.

This site uses different types of cookies. Some cookies are placed by third party services that appear on our pages.

You can at any time change or withdraw your consent from the Cookie Declaration on our website.

Learn more about who we are, how you can contact us and how we process personal data in our Privacy Policy.

Please state your consent ID and date when you contact us regarding your consent.

Most web browsers allow you to view your cookies in the browser preferences, typically within the "Privacy" or "Security" tab. Some browsers allow you to delete specific cookies or even prevent cookies from being created. While disallowing cookies in your browser may provide a higher level of privacy, it is not recommended since many websites require cookies to function properly. Alternatively, you can visit www.aboutcookies.org which provides directions on how to block or delete cookies on all major browsers.

Do not sell or share my personal information

What is the difference between refractive and diffractive line generators?

A refractive line generator uses a cylinder or rod lens to focus a laser in only one axis only (drop-moved placement) in order to create a line of light. A diffractive line generator uses a flat optic with an etched microstructure that breaks apart a laser beam and forms an interference pattern in the shape of a laser line. Refractive optics do not correct for the inherent Gaussian profile of a laser beam and form a line with a "hot spot" in the center and fading edges. Diffractive optics will create a line that is uniform in thickness over its length, but is segmented. Diffractive line generators also cause a small portion of the light to be redirected into different diffractive orders, which causes additional faint lines to appear. Some laser line generators use a unique patented Powell glass lens design in order to achieve a continuous (not segmented) line with an even distribution along the length of the line.

Was this content useful to you?

Thank you for rating this content!