Closed-Loop Fabrication of Free-Form Optics

To meet the need of the Navy in fabrication and measurement of conformal windows such as toroidal to precise optical tolerances from ceramic materials, Applied Science Innovations (ASI) proposes Phase II development of the Closed-Loop Fabrication of Free-Form Optics (CLF3O), building directly on ASI''s successful Phase I feasibility studies. The proposed CLF3O system is a modular attachment for integrating a standard commercial interferometer with an existing optical fabrication tool in a common process. Proposed measurement and processing will ensure precise determination of location and orientation of the window being fabricated and tested, in addition to measurement of the optical figure of both surfaces. The proposed CLF3O attachment will enable one iterative procedure of fabrication and measurement until the part is finished to specification. Phase I has produced the optomechanical design of the modular attachment for integration with a standard interferometer and application-specific processing algorithms. In Phase II, a first generation preproduction prototype system will be produced are demonstrated.