Astronomical Mirrors and
Large-size optics Manufacturing

Figuring of large-size optical components up to 4000mm in diameter is fulfilled in a thermostatic hall. For standard conditions of high precision optical components polishing a temperature of 21+/-1oС is held in the optical hall. In the stage of preliminary surface figuring of flat, spherical and a-spherical optical elements, machines with the classical motion kinematics of full-size, small-size and mask tools are used. For high precision finishing of optical surfaces, computer-controlled machines of CNC AD series (AD-1000, CD-1000, AD-2000, AD-4000) are used to figure optical components of 100 up to 4000mm size with using small-scale oscillating tools. To support optical components in the process of machining and technological testing a range of vibration-isolated test stands and technological supporting mounts of membrane-pneumatic type are used, in which an automatic system for maintaining of adjustment parameters is used for changing atmospheric conditions (atmospheric pressure, temperature). The software system contains a number of subroutines of various applications. They provide computer-controlled technological process, calculation of optical surface topography on the results of interference testing, calculation of material removal with a prescribed set of polishers, calculation of mechanical trajectory of the polishers along a component, calculation of corrective technological parameters, optimization of figuring process, control programs to drive polishing tools.

final figuring process of a high-precision mirror on CNC computer-controlled machine AD-2000