Method of forming a sharp edge on an optical device
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
InventorsCharles M. Fleetwood, Stephen H. Rice
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of forming a sharp edge on an optical device. The method involves the steps of placing the optical device in a holding mechanism; grinding one surface of the optical device so the one surface and a surface of the holding mechanism are co-planer; and polishing the one surface of the optical device and the surface of the holding mechanism with felt until an edge on the one surface of the optical device adjacent the surface of the holding mechanism obtains a desired sharpness.
Claims15
A method of forming a sharp edge on an optical device comprising the steps of:
- placing said optical device in a holding device;
- grinding one surface of said optical device until one surface thereof and a surface of said holding device are co-planer;
- and
- polishing said one surface of said optical device and said surface of said holding device with felt until an edge of said one surface of said optical device adjacent to said surface of said holding device has a desired sharpness, said step of polishing including the steps of;
- rotating said felt,
- holding said optical device and said holding device from rotating,
- aligning said edge so that said edge is a trailing edge to said rotation of said felt,
- holding said one surface of said optical device and said holding device in contact with and off-set from the center of said rotating felt, and
- applying pressure to said optical device and said holding device.
A method of forming an optical device for splitting a beam of energy on an edge of said device comprising the steps of:
- optically polishing a surface on said optical device;
- cutting a groove into a surface of a holding device, said groove being angled with respect to said surface of said holding device;
- securing said optical device in said groove with said optically polished surface of said optical device contacting said groove;
- grinding another surface of said optical device opposed from said optically polished surface and said surface of said holding device until said surfaces are substantially co-planer;
- rotating a felt pad;
- applying a polishing material to said rotating felt pad;
- holding said surface of said holding device and said another surface of said optical device in contact with said rotating felt pad;
- applying pressure to said holding device and optical device while said another surface of said optical device and said surface of said holding device contact said felt pad;
- holding said optical device and said holding device against said felt pad so that as said felt pad rotates said edge is a trailing edge;
- and
- polishing said another surface of said optical device until said edge formed at the intersection between said surfaces and said another surface of said optical device obtains a sharpness of less than 2 micron.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.