Low Cost Finishing of Optical Ceramic Domes with Embedded Grids

Traditional methods of manufacturing ceramic domes with an embedded grid involves manufacturing two thin and precise domes that fit together, placing a grid between them, and bonding the assembly together. This method is costly as the optician has to make two precise domes to make embedded grid dome". For the Low Cost Finishing of optical Ceramic Domes with Embedded Grid, phase I SBIR, we plan to purchase a near net shape monolithic ALON dome from Surmet, with the grid already in the blank material. The dome blank will be sent out to Resodyn for measurement of the grid location relative to both the concave and convex surfaces. Once the grid location measurements are completed, the amount of total material to be removed can be determined from each surface. The manufacturing process will begin and we will track the material removal and place the optical surface at the specified distance from the grid. This process will reduce the cost of manufacturing the dome, as the optician will only have to manufacture one dome instead of two. When the dome is completed we will send it back to Resodyn for verification of the grid location as part of the Phase I option.