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Fabrication
Exotic Electro-Optics, Inc. (EEO)'s optical fabrication department
transforms glass or crystal blanks into finished optical components
for visible through infrared wavelength systems. Processing blanks
into finished optics includes CNC milling, spherical and cylindrical
generating, fine grinding, polishing and edging. The techniques
used for these operations run the gamut from high speed automated
production to hand finishing by master opticians.
The configurations produced include lenses, windows, partial to
hyper-hemispherical domes, cylinders, beamsplitters and irregular
plano shapes ranging in size from a fraction of an inch to 26 inches
and greater.
The materials processed include all visible glass types, germanium,
silicon, zinc sulfide, zinc selenide, AMTIR, sapphire and other
infrared crystals.
Synchro-Speed
In addition to conventional fabrication capability, EEO has precision,
high-speed fabrication options, commonly referred to as 'synchro-speed'
and diamond turning. Both of these options represent a mature processing
capability and a significant capital investment.
EEO's precision fabrication option is comprised of CNC curve generators,
finers and polishers that form a 'cell.' This 'cell' concept contains
all of the necessary equipment to process precision optics of virtually
any material in sizes in excess of 200mm in diameter of any radius.
While the conventional fabrication process may take multiple hours
to polish a surface, the high-speed cell will require a fraction
of the time with comparable results.
Diamond Turning
In addition to the precision, synchro-speed processing, EEO has
a CNC diamond turning and flycutting capability which gives EEO
the ability to produce aspheric and diffractive optical surfaces
on non-amorphic materials up to 24" diameter.
Testing
All of the optical fabrication processing options at EEO are supported
by the testing equipment required to properly characterize the mechanical
and optical properties of the finished optic. These include interferometric,
surface roughness and profile and holographic capabilities.
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