Acylinder and freeform optical manufacturing

Edward Fess; Frank Wolfs; Scott DeFisher; James Ross

doi:10.1117/12.2195958

11 October 2015 Acylinder and freeform optical manufacturing

Edward Fess, Frank Wolfs, Scott DeFisher, James Ross

Proceedings Volume 9633, Optifab 2015; 96331D (2015) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2195958
Event: SPIE Optifab, 2015, Rochester, New York, United States

Abstract

Aspheric cylinders have the ability to improve optical performance over standard cylindrical surfaces. Over the last several years there has also been development into the application and functionality of utilizing freeform surfaces to improve optical performance. Freeforms have the ability to not only improve image quality over a greater field of view, but can open up the design space of an optical system making it more compact. Freeform geometries, much like aspheric cylinders, may not have an axis of rotation to spin the optic about during manufacturing. This leads to costly fabrication processes and custom metrology set ups, which may inhibit their use.

Over the last several years, OptiPro Systems has developed and optimized our eSX grinding, UFF and USF polishing, UltraSurf metrology, and ProSurf software programming technologies to make the processing of these complex geometries much easier and deterministic. In this paper we will discuss the challenges associated with manufacturing complex shapes like aspheric cylinders as well as freeform geometries, and how several technologies working together can overcome them. The technologies focus on metrology feedback to a grinding and polishing machine that is controlled through an iterative computer aided manufacturing software system. We will also present examples of these hard to manufacture shapes with results.

Citation Download Citation

Edward Fess, Frank Wolfs, Scott DeFisher, and James Ross "Acylinder and freeform optical manufacturing", Proc. SPIE 9633, Optifab 2015, 96331D (11 October 2015); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2195958

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