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Diamond turning

Ultra-precise turning using diamond

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What is diamond turning

Ultra-precise turning using monocrystalline diamond tooltips is the way to manufacture nearly any kind of optical surface shape with high precision and very low surface roughness values. Due to a very stable lathe and CNC precision control to nanometer levels it makes diamond turning especially profitable for prototyping and low volumes manufacturing. It gives complete control of shape just by programming and by this realizes single optics quite fast compared to conventional polishing techniques.

Another advantage of diamond turning is that innovative flange designs can be integrated into the design of the optical component, which can make assembly faster and more productive due to less alignment issues.

Materials that can be processed by diamond turning:

Non-ferrous metals: Aluminum, copper, brass, nickel.
Plastics: PMMA, PC, Zeonex, Topaz, OKP, APL, etc.
IR lens materials: Silicon, germanium

Part sizes: 1 – 400 mm
Shapes: Aspherical, spherical, parabolical, elliptical (both also off-axis), fresnel, diffrax
With slow servo tool: torics, biconics, cylinder, free form, microlenses

Optical requirements (ISO 10110):
Shape accuracy (PV): < 100 nm, depending on diameter, material and geometry.
Shape accuracy (RMS): < 15 nm, depending on diameter, material and geometry.
Surface roughness (Rq): down to 2 nm, depending on material.

Diamond

Products


Examples of our products

Satellite mirrors

Satellite mirrors


Satellite mirrors are often realized in aluminum due to matching CTE’s with their housing and other equipment. Mirrors can be made in standard grade aluminum, but also various RSA alloys, arcap, copper, brass or nickel.
Infrared optics

Infrared Optics


Our IR lenses are used in night vision and thermal imaging applications. (Silicon, germanium, gasir with asphere and diffrax geometries).
Smartphone prototype lenses

Smartphone protoype lenses


Prototype lenses for smartphones and other consumer electronics, LED and vision applications, often involving complex flange designs. (ZEONEX, APEL, OKP1, OKP4, PMMA, Polycarbonate)
VR prototype lenses

VR protoype lenses


Prototype lenses for VR, AR and mixed reality headsets.
Mould inserts

Automotive light lenses


Prototype lenses for lighting and automotive industries.
Mould inserts

Mould inserts


Inserts for moulding are most often realized in steel or brass plated with nickel for optimal surface form accuracy and minimum roughness. Inserts can also be made in aluminum, arcap and brass for prototyping of the moulds itself.