Single point Diamond Turning

 

The Process

Cutting polymer on the Nanotech

Cutting polymer on the Nanotech

Single Point Diamond Turning was developed to produce directly-machined optical surfaces. The technology uses single gem-quality natural monocrystalline diamonds that cut surfaces to sub-micron accuracy on a precision lathe.The process delivers high-precision optical components without the restriction of conventional polishing techniques and allows optical designers the freedom to offer aspheric, diffractive and hybrid surfaces that do not require polishing.

 

 

MR7 lenses with antirefection coating

MR7 lenses with antirefection coating

Siltint offers diamond-machined optical components with sub-micron accuracy on materials suitable for applications from the visible to the far infra-red. Materials include polymers, metals and infrared components – Germanium, Zinc Selenide, Silicon, Zinc Sulphide etc.

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Cutting

Cutting

The lathe machining pattern is calculated using specialist DIFFSYS software which calculates the specific movements of the three axes spindle and also the cutting shape, depth and speed.

  • Replacing conventional lenses with diamond turned plastic aspheres helps reduce system errors and also reduces system weight and the physical length of the optical system
  • Aspheric, diffractive and hybrid surfaces are machined to <0.1 µm accuracy
  • Both visible spectrum and infrared materials can be processed
  • Custom mould tools are provided in brass, copper or other ductile metals
  • Customer designs and specifications are quickly and accurately turned into lathe machining programs using special software
  • Quantities can vary from small batch prototyping to just-in-time volume production

Siltint’s Moore Nanotech 250UPL lathe

Siltint’s Moore Nanotech 250UPL lathe

Equipment includes a Moore Nanotech 250UPL Lathe and a Taylor Hobson Form TalySurf PGI 1240.

  • The lathe has a granite bed mounted on a passive air isolation system to eliminate vibration
  • Linear motor drives provide rapid cycle times and improved surface quality

TalySurf PGI1240

TalySurf PGI1240

The Form TalySurf is the industry standard metrology system providing horizontal measurement of 200 mm with 0.8 nm vertical and 0.125 µm horizontal resolution