3-AXIS ALL-ROTARY-MOTION NUMERICALLY-CONTROLLED OPTICAL GENERATOR

THE DEVELOPMENT OF A LOW COST, 3-AXIS, NUMERICALLY-CONTROLLED, OPTICAL GENERATOR SUITABLE FOR USE IN GRINDING GLASS OR CERAMIC PARTS, AS WELL AS FOR MACHING METALS TO OPTICAL TOLERANCES IS DESCRIBED. THIS INNOVATIVE DESIGN USES ROTARY BEARINGS ON ALL THREE AXES BECAUSE OF THEHIGH ACCURACY AND LOW COST PROVIDED. THE NC MACHINE WILL HAVE THE CAPACITY TO GENERATE EITHER ROTATIONALLY SYMMETRIC OR ASYMMETRIC OPTICAL COMPONENTS 12" IN DIAMETER WITH A SAGITTA OF UP TO 1". NOTHING IN THE DESIGN SHOULD FUNDAMENTALLY LIMIT THE EXPANSION OF ITS CAPACITY TO GENERATE EITHER LARGER DIAMETER OR DEEPER SAGITTA. TO MINIMIZE COST, THE NC GENERATOR WILL BE DEVELOPED USING COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE COMPONENTS, INCLUDING A PC-BASED CONTROL SYSTEM. TO INSURE OBTAINING SURFACE FINISHES SUITABLE FOR DIRECT OPTICAL POLISHING, A DYNAMIC TOOL BALANCING AND DRESSING STATION WILL BE BUILT INTO THE INSTRUMENT. THE DEVELOPMENT EFFORT WILL INCLUDE THE OVERALL GENERATOR LAYOUT, IDENTIFICATION OF SUITABLE COMPONENTS, AND AN ERROR ANALYSIS TO PREDICT THE INSTRUMENT'S PERFORMANCE. ALSO, THEPHASE II PROTOTYPE FABRICATION COST AND PHASE III COMMERCIALINSTRUMENT COSTS WILL BE ESTIMATED.