An Ion Figuring System For Large Optic Fabrication

Ion figuring has recently been shown to be an efficient and deterministic optical fabrication method. Eastman Kodak Company has developea a five-axis, computer-controlled Ion Figuring System (IFS) for final figuring of large size optical elements. Components with major dimensions up to 2.5 x 2.5 x 0.6m can be processed. A standard Kaufman-type, ,broad-beam ion source has been employed to supply the stable ion beam removal function, used to physically sputter desired material from the target optical surface. Modeling results of this process have shown great potential to rapidly converge to required optical surface figures.