Word of the Day
11 June 2026
defocus
The distance by which the focal point is in front of (positive defocus) or beyond (negative defocus) the image or target surface.
Why this one
Sign convention is the trap: whether positive means the focus sits above or below the surface depends on the shop's convention, so a number without a stated reference is useless. In laser cutting it is a deliberate setting, not an error.
In use
Edge quality went off after the nozzle change; put a bit of defocus back in and it cleaned right up.
Written by our editors to show how the term is used, not a recorded quotation.Sources
- Definition sourceWiktionary