Magnetorheological Finishing of Spherical and Aspheric Precision Optics

Byelocorp Scientific, Inc. is proposing the development of an innovative computer-controlled finishing technique in cooperation with the Center for Optics Manufacturing as defined in their TRP Technology Development Proposal for the manufacture oof high precision optical components that will eliminate the need for specialized tooling, highly skilled craftsmen, and iterative and expensive polishing techniques. This new optical finishing process will make use of magnetorheological fluids, and "intelligent" medium with controllable properties which are capable of creating superior finishing results for spheres and, in particular, aspheres. Magnetorheological fluids undergo rapid and reversible changes in their rheological properties (viscosity, elasticity, and plasticity) in the presence of a magnetic field. The ability to control the magnetorheological fluid allows a controllable and compliant lap to replace the fixed, rigid lap used in the current process. This new finishing process offers several advantages heretofore unavailable in the precision optics industry. The process is computer controlled and does not require specialized tooling. This makes the process perfectly suited for rapid prototyping, complex optical geometries and finishing problems. Magnetorheological finishing will be used to perform polishing and final figuring on Opticam generated spherical and aspheric optics. Anticipated Benefits: Magnetorheological finishing will allow the optics industry to cost-effectively produce: pristine optical surface finishes, form, and figure, superior to anything available today; aspheric, toroidal and cylindrical optics available in production quantities at reasonable cost; laser and x-ray optics, conformal optics of any geometry for flat panel displays, high definition television (HDTV), etc.