TY - GEN
T1 - Automated optical fabrication
T2 - Optomechanical Technologies for Astronomy
AU - Walker, D. D.
AU - Beaucamp, A. T.H.
AU - Doubrovski, V.
AU - Dunn, C.
AU - Evans, R.
AU - Freeman, R.
AU - Kelchner, J.
AU - McCavana, G.
AU - Morton, R.
AU - Riley, D.
AU - Simms, J.
AU - Yu, G.
AU - Wei, X.
PY - 2006
Y1 - 2006
N2 - The requirements of space and defence optical systems and ground-based astronomy (especially extremely large telescopes) are providing optical fabricators with new challenges. These challenges particularly concern process speed, determinism and automation, and tighter tolerances on surface form and texture. Moreover, there is a growing demand for complex off-axis and 'freeform' surfaces and for larger components of the ~lm scale. With this in view, we first report on form-correction on a smaller analogue of the LRP1200 - an IRP400 in service in industry. We then report on the design, commissioning and preliminary process-development results from the first of the scaled-up 1.2m capacity CNC polishing machine from Zeeko, Ltd. This machine delivers the 'Classic' bonnet-based process, together with two new processes - fluid-jet polishing and the hybrid soft-grinding/polishing process called 'Zeeko-Grolish.' We indicate how this trio of processes running on the same machine platform with unified software can provide an unprecedented dynamic range in both volumetric removal rate and removal spot-size. This leads into a discussion of how these processes may be brought to bear on optimal control of texture and form. Preliminary performance of the 1.2m machine is illustrated with results on both axially-symmetric and more complex removal regimes. The paper concludes with an overview of the relevance of the technology to efficient production of instrumentation-optics, space optics and segmented telescope mirrors.
AB - The requirements of space and defence optical systems and ground-based astronomy (especially extremely large telescopes) are providing optical fabricators with new challenges. These challenges particularly concern process speed, determinism and automation, and tighter tolerances on surface form and texture. Moreover, there is a growing demand for complex off-axis and 'freeform' surfaces and for larger components of the ~lm scale. With this in view, we first report on form-correction on a smaller analogue of the LRP1200 - an IRP400 in service in industry. We then report on the design, commissioning and preliminary process-development results from the first of the scaled-up 1.2m capacity CNC polishing machine from Zeeko, Ltd. This machine delivers the 'Classic' bonnet-based process, together with two new processes - fluid-jet polishing and the hybrid soft-grinding/polishing process called 'Zeeko-Grolish.' We indicate how this trio of processes running on the same machine platform with unified software can provide an unprecedented dynamic range in both volumetric removal rate and removal spot-size. This leads into a discussion of how these processes may be brought to bear on optimal control of texture and form. Preliminary performance of the 1.2m machine is illustrated with results on both axially-symmetric and more complex removal regimes. The paper concludes with an overview of the relevance of the technology to efficient production of instrumentation-optics, space optics and segmented telescope mirrors.
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U2 - 10.1117/12.671098
DO - 10.1117/12.671098
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:33749584339
SN - 0819463388
SN - 9780819463388
T3 - Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
BT - Optomechanical Technologies for Astronomy
Y2 - 24 May 2006 through 31 May 2006
ER -