Optical Additive Manufacturing in Mid-Wave and Long-Wave Infrared Bands

Phase I work will determine the feasibility of using MWIR-LWIR Additive Manufacturing (AM) process to safely deposit hazardous optical materials for the manufacturing and the refurbishment of MWIR and LWIR optical components. ĀThe MWIR-LWIR AM will provide full densification with a smooth optical surface quality, so that minimum post-processing is needed.Ā The new MWIR-LWIR AM process will be tested with infrared nano materials that will be used to produce an optical surface with a flatness of lambda/10, centration of 3 arc minutes, clear aperture diameter of 3ö, transmission in the MWIR and LWIR, and athermalized from -54║C to +90║C.Ā Analysis of the initial AM prototype testing will identify the technological improvements and reliability challenges to produce the desired optical elements, and propose a plan for how these will be addressed. ĀPhase I effort will provide a preliminary identification of hazards and a cost analysis of MWIR-LWIR AM for optical components versus machining or tooling.Ā Also, initial design specifications and prototype plans to be developed under Phase II will be presented.