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An innovative process for polishing precision aluminum optics NASA Goddard Space Flight Center invites companies to license its unique method for polishing precision optics. This technology uses diamond turning and polishing with a special compound to achieve a smooth surface—down to 5 angstroms—on an all-aluminum mirror. Mirrors fabricated using this process are lighter, less expensive, and more thermally stable than aluminum mirrors plated with electroless nickel.
Manufacturers of optics, metal optics, and diamond turning and polishing equipment could license and incorporate Goddard’s process into their products. The high-quality optics achieved using this method can be used in a variety of applications:
How it works
Goddard’s process uses a special compound to polish the mirror to a super smooth finish. This compound not only offers superb lubricating qualities, but it also contains suspended particles. These particles are extremely hard and small, making the compound ideal for mirror polishing. Flat and spherical mirrors polished with Goddard’s process have a roughness of 5 angstroms rms while maintaining a surface figure accuracy of 0.125 of a wave peak to valley. Aspherical mirrors can be polished to a 10-angstrom rms finish. Why it is betterThe major benefit of this innovative process is the ability to make pure aluminum mirrors. Aluminum optics are less expensive and lighter than optics made from other pure materials. Also, nickel plating aluminum optics has drawbacks. Plating faults can ruin the optic, and the bimetal thermal characteristics of nickel over aluminum are poor, which is problematic for space and other applications with dramatic temperature swings. Finally, the nickel plating process can be expensive. By enabling the fabrication of high-quality aluminum mirrors, Goddard’s process can dramatically reduce component fabrication cost while improving the performance of the optical system.
This technology is part of NASA’s Innovative Partnerships Program Office, which seeks to transfer technology into and out of NASA to benefit the space program and U.S. industry. NASA invites companies to consider licensing the Aluminum Super Polishing Process technology (GSC-14147-1) for commercial applications. For information and forms related to the technology licensing and partnering process, please visit the Licensing and Partnering page. (Link opens new browser window) If you are interested in more information or want to pursue transfer of this technology(GSC-14147-1), please contact: Innovative Partnerships Program Office
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This revolutionary process for precision optical polishing of bare aluminum results in unprecedented smoothness of the optic. Goddard’s process begins by using a single-point diamond turning machine. Grinding cannot be used on bare aluminum—it leaves behind particles that scratch the surface during polishing. Diamond turning alone typically produces a 30- to 80- angstrom finish on standard aluminum materials. Therefore, additional polishing is required to achieve the needed smoothness for low-scatter, high-quality bare aluminum optics.
