Optics manufacturing by laser radiation

• Published in: Optics and lasers in engineering 2014-08, Vol.59, p.34-40
• Main Authors: Heidrich, Sebastian, Richmann, Annika, Schmitz, Patrick, Willenborg, Edgar, Wissenbach, Konrad, Loosen, Peter, Poprawe, Reinhart
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ablation; Aspherics; Chains; Flexibility; High speed; Laser ablation; Laser materials processing; Lasers; Melting; Optical design and fabrication; Polishing; Silica; Surface roughness
• ISSN: 0143-8166; 1873-0302
• DOI: 10.1016/j.optlaseng.2014.03.001

Current results of the development of a process chain for optics manufacturing with laser radiation are presented. The process chain consists of three process steps: High Speed Laser Ablation creates the surface geometry by material ablation, Laser Polishing reduces the surface roughness by material remelting and High Precision Laser Ablation applies a form correction by removing redundant material. Compared to conventional optics manufacturing methods, this process chain benefits from its high flexibility concerning the optics geometry and its processing speed, which is independent from the processed geometry. •Main advantage of laser-based optics manufacturing is the high processing speed which is independent from the surface form to be processed.•The laser-based optics manufacturing process is divided into three process steps each with its own goals.•High Speed Laser Ablation for fast form generation with ablation depth up to 20mm³/s.•Laser Polishing for reducing the roughness regardless of the surface form.•High Precision Laser Ablation for form correction by selective material removal.