SBIR Phase II: Non-Traditional Material Removal

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will further develop abrasive jet technology for manufacturing/finishng microoptics. Abrasion is accomplished by shear flow at the surface of the substrate submerged in an abrasive suspension and impinged upon by a bubble jet. This technology will allow the precision finishing of surfaces with an aperture size as small as 1 millimeter, and provide a scientific basis for, and demonstrate the feasibility of, new technology for optics fabrication. Enabling the finishing of small, high precision molds and lenses will allow manufacture of higher resolution cameras for camera phones and other consumer products, and for medical and surveillance devices.