University acquires precision optics capability
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Cranfield University product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
May 19, 2005
As part of a four-year collaborative project investigating ultraprecision surfaces, Cranfield University has acquired a reactive atom plasma figuring system.
As part of a four-year collaborative project investigating ultraprecision surfaces, Cranfield University has acquired a reactive atom plasma figuring system.
The system, developed by Rapt Industries in the USA, will play a key role in improving the speed of manufacture of the ultraprecise optics which interlock to produce the large telescopic mirrors used to look for Earth-like planets near to far-away stars.
Professor Paul Shore, Professor of Ultra Precision Technologies, said: "In precision production engineering terms, the manufacture of segments for the next generation of large telescope designs is probably the most significant precision engineering challenge we have seen".
"The aim is to produce ultraprecision surfaces at 10 times the accuracy and with ten times greater speed than we are currently able to do".
"Our new machine uses a plasma torch to remove atoms from the surface of an optic to give it its correct surface shape".
"And this process is one of those identified as being useful in speeding up the manufacture of ultra precision optics".
The university hopes that, once the system has been used in fundamental studies, it can set about building a much bigger version.
"Essentially, we are linking ultraprecision research at Cranfield with plasma physics to allow us to develop better techniques for making ultraprecision surfaces", continued Professor Shore.
As part of the bigger project, Cranfield University professors Paul Shore, Dave Stephenson and John Nicholls, together with University College London and Optic Technium, are set to establish a unique UK national facility in North Wales for making large optics.
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