Optics Manufacturing
I have worked both hands-on and in a process engineering capacity with optics
ranging from 1.5 mm to 2.56 m in diameter; thickness down to 90
mm; with materials of all types including a range of
glass, metals, gain crystals, nonlinear and birefringent crystals; with hardness
ranging from NaCl to Al2O3; in configurations including
flat, radius, prism, cylinder, aspheric, multi-surface, lightweight,
water-cooled, gas-cooled, and assemblies. I've also developed tooling, fixturing,
handling and test methods for unique projects. I developed and taught a
six-month apprentice program for a major laser manufacturer that brought
new-hires to the level of five- to ten-year veteran opticians; and have
presented training programs for several major precision optics companies' technicians.
Manufacturing Methods
- Unit quantity to production line
- Conventional fabrication
- Planetary polishing
- Diamond turning
- Tooling and fixturing
- Flat, radius, cylinder, prism and asphere
- Contacting, cementing and stacking
- Precision dicing
- Cleaning
- Little-known tips and tricks
Process Optimization
- Risk mitigation
- Tooling and technique
- Sequence and method
- Integrating test methods with tooling
- Multiplying IPQA effectiveness
- Preserving the value added
|