Thank you OptiPro Systems for posting this beautiful video on optical polishing and finishing machines. As you see in this video, a mirror-like smooth and shiny surface has been obtained after CNC polishing and finishing processes on precision machines. Special slurries are being used progressively starting from a rougher grit and moving towards finer grits to obtain atomic level surface roughnesses (Angstroms and Nanometers). The aspheres are generally inspected at various points of the manufacturing line. Interferometer, among other instruments is used to evaluate the surface shape and quality. A centration machine can be used to bring the optics down to the specified centration values. These machines are built specially for ultraprecision applications and need to be free of vibrations and deviations in unwanted directions and amounts, and must have extraordinary straightness and repeatability among other merits. Manufacturing precision optics is more demanding than metal parts manufacturing, because optical surfaces must be clean and very smooth. Optical component geometries require high accuracy and small tolerances because when mounted, any small misalignment or tilt can deflect, reflect, refract the light in unwanted directions. Also since optical components are often coated with metal or metal oxides to act as mirror or filter, the surface roughness has to be very low to allow smoothly coated surfaces. So, this kind of CNC equipment is a good choice to obtain smoothness on a nanometric level within the shortest lead times. Also cleanliness and precautions against contamination are critical and there are many cleaning steps involved. A small mistake or contamination, scratch, chip, defect or else can easily render the final product as scrap and repairing optical components is much more difficult or impossible as compared to metal parts. Especially when optics is made for high power laser applications, any small defect or contamination can cause a local burn at the defect / contamination site and result in downtime of the apparatus in which the optics is mounted. So, to obtain optical grade surfaces on glass or other surfaces such as metal, the way to go is special grinders and polishers as here plus high end test equipment, among some other things. Please visit our UA-cam channel by clicking our logo on the left for other good content on manufacturing techniques and engineering content.
How do you do a radius correction on one of these. Say I have a cx lens that has a radius of 76.998 mm with a ca of 17mm. I made a 76.054 mm part ...how many fringes do I correct for in the machine?
Thank you OptiPro Systems for posting this beautiful video on optical polishing and finishing machines. As you see in this video, a mirror-like smooth and shiny surface has been obtained after CNC polishing and finishing processes on precision machines. Special slurries are being used progressively starting from a rougher grit and moving towards finer grits to obtain atomic level surface roughnesses (Angstroms and Nanometers). The aspheres are generally inspected at various points of the manufacturing line. Interferometer, among other instruments is used to evaluate the surface shape and quality. A centration machine can be used to bring the optics down to the specified centration values. These machines are built specially for ultraprecision applications and need to be free of vibrations and deviations in unwanted directions and amounts, and must have extraordinary straightness and repeatability among other merits. Manufacturing precision optics is more demanding than metal parts manufacturing, because optical surfaces must be clean and very smooth. Optical component geometries require high accuracy and small tolerances because when mounted, any small misalignment or tilt can deflect, reflect, refract the light in unwanted directions. Also since optical components are often coated with metal or metal oxides to act as mirror or filter, the surface roughness has to be very low to allow smoothly coated surfaces. So, this kind of CNC equipment is a good choice to obtain smoothness on a nanometric level within the shortest lead times. Also cleanliness and precautions against contamination are critical and there are many cleaning steps involved. A small mistake or contamination, scratch, chip, defect or else can easily render the final product as scrap and repairing optical components is much more difficult or impossible as compared to metal parts. Especially when optics is made for high power laser applications, any small defect or contamination can cause a local burn at the defect / contamination site and result in downtime of the apparatus in which the optics is mounted. So, to obtain optical grade surfaces on glass or other surfaces such as metal, the way to go is special grinders and polishers as here plus high end test equipment, among some other things. Please visit our UA-cam channel by clicking our logo on the left for other good content on manufacturing techniques and engineering content.
Could you give me some advice related to the felt bob brand suit for the polish process?
Learn a lot.
How do you do a radius correction on one of these. Say I have a cx lens that has a radius of 76.998 mm with a ca of 17mm. I made a 76.054 mm part ...how many fringes do I correct for in the machine?
ummm ... 11? yeah it’s definitely 11.
21.4 fringes at 632.8nm
Cool!!!
It's a good machine
جميل
Me exeriyens lens compNi 10 yars