ROCHESTER, NY -- The Center for Optics Manufacturing (COM) at the University of Rochester has announced a major milestone in its DARPA-sponsored Precision Conformal Optics Technology (PCOT) program: On June 15, COM took delivery of the NanotechTM 500FG -- a deterministic microgrinder built by Moore Nanotechnology Systems, of Keene, NH. According to COM's definition, conformal optical shapes include both axisymmetric and non-axisymmetric optical components and may have a combination of aspherical, spherical, cylindrical, conical, diffractive, plano, or ogive shapes, in materials ranging from optical glass and infrared materials to non-ferrous metals, crystals, polymers, and ceramics. The Nanotech 500FG is designed to provide the optics industry with next-generation conformal optics manufacturing capability. This microgrinder is a computer numerically controlled, multi-axis, ultra-precision machining system capable of generating any arbitrary shape -- including non-spherical and non-axisymmetric surfaces -- within a 250mm x 250mm x 300mm machining envelope. Nanotech 500FG modes of operation include:
The first spherical parts that COM generated with the Nanotech 500FG were ground to 120mm radius to evaluate machine performance. These parts had less than 0.5mm figure error and under 50 angstroms rms surface roughness in both SF6 and BaSF2 materials. An added benefit cited by COM is that the grinding head of the Nanotech 500FG can be swapped out for a single-point diamond turning post to be mounted in its place. In addition to its multi-axis grinding and diamond-turning capability, the machining system is designed with ability to true freeform raster grind far off-axis segments, thereby negating the need to attempt unrealistically large swings. Although the Center for Optics Manufacturing has spearheaded the Nanotech 500FG development initiative, COM says that the real credit for the program's success belongs to the CDMG (Conformal Deterministic Microgrinding) Manufacturing Advisory Board (Eastman Kodak, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon TI Systems, II-VI), Moore Nanotechnology Systems, and to DARPA for funding support. DARPA -- in conjunction with DoD prime contractors Raytheon and Boeing -- has already identified several candidate military systems that may benefit from this enabling technology. PTB Home |
Prior
to the creation of the DARPA PCOT Consortium and the development of
the Nanotech 500FG, says COM, the combination of extreme accuracy requirements
and difficult materials put the fabrication of unusually shaped, non-axisymmetric
optics beyond the reach of most precision-optics manufacturers -- at
least at an affordable cost. The Nanotech 500FG offers an approach that
systematically identifies and overcomes the manufacturing technology
shortfalls and cost drivers that prevent the use of non-traditional
optical shapes and materials in advanced optical systems. The development
of a cost-effective machining system for producing freeform optical
shapes is expected to significantly enhance the industry's manufacturing
capability.