Edmund Optics offers diamond-turning technique

EO uses single-point diamond turning to produce off-axis parabolic (OAP) mirrors, off-axis elliptical (OAE) mirrors, and other precision metal, plastic, and crystalline optical components. Off-axis focusing mirrors are free of aberrations across a broadband range, which makes them suitable for use in instrumentation and laser systems. EO’s diamond turning capabilities are available in three grades: Commercial (λ wavefront error and 80-50 surface quality), Precision (λ/2 wavefront error and 60-40 surface quality), and High Precision (λ/8 wavefront error and 40-20 surface quality). EO can also achieve RMS surface roughness values as low as 30 Å. A variety of coatings are available, including uncoated, aluminum, protected gold, bare gold, and custom coatings.

The company has released a video showing footage of optical components being diamond-turned. The video demonstrates the strict environmental controls on temperature, cleanliness, and vibration required for diamond turning.

The video also outlines the data-collection process during inspection—monitoring surface quality, surface roughness, and mechanical inspection. EO said process improvement is a priority, including six sigma, lean processes, and Kaizen events, resulting in reduced setup time, increased lot sizes, and minimized waste. An in-house machine shop allows for streamlined creation of tooling and blanks, further reducing lead times.

A variety of metrology instruments inspect the diamond-turned parts to ensure high quality, including interferometers, profilometers, and coordinate measuring machines. In addition to the large selection of standard optical components, EO offers build-to-print or custom capabilities to meet exact customer specifications. EO’s diamond-turning staff has extensive experience in optimizing designs for manufacturability and cost reduction.