Magnetorheological finishing of edges of optical elements
    1.
    发明授权
    Magnetorheological finishing of edges of optical elements 失效
    光学元件边缘的磁流变学

    公开(公告)号:US5616066A

    公开(公告)日:1997-04-01

    申请号:US603528

    申请日:1996-02-21

    摘要: Method and apparatus using magnetorheological fluid for finishing a non-image-forming edge of an optical element to a very high degree of smoothness and for removing microscopic fissures from such edges, the method comprising positioning an optical element near a continuous carrier surface such that a converging gap is defined between an edge of the optical element and the carrier surface, the element being disposed such that image-forming refractive and reflective surfaces thereof do not create a gap with the carrier surface; applying a magnetic field substantially at the gap; introducing a magnetorheological fluid onto the carrier surface; driving the magnetorheological fluid through the gap to cause a flow of magnetic field-stiffened magnetorheological fluid through this gap to create a work zone and to form a transient finishing tool for removing material from the edge of the optical element; and moving the optical element relative to the work zone to expose different portions of the edge to the fluid for predetermined time periods to finish the edge to a predetermined degree. The lateral extent of fluid may be broad enough to permit polishing of a plurality of optical elements simultaneously on a single carrier surface, or a plurality of finishing stations may be ganged to finish a plurality of optical elements on a plurality of carrier surfaces.

    摘要翻译: 使用磁流变流体来完成光学元件的非图像形成边缘的方法和装置具有非常高的平滑度并且用于从这些边缘去除微小的裂缝,该方法包括将光学元件定位在连续的载体表面附近,使得 在所述光学元件的边缘和所述载体表面之间限定会聚间隙,所述元件被设置成使得其图像形成折射和反射表面不与所述载体表面产生间隙; 施加基本上在间隙处的磁场; 将磁流变流体引入到载体表面上; 通过间隙驱动磁流变流体,以使磁场加强的磁流变流体流过该间隙,以产生工作区域并形成用于从光学元件的边缘移除材料的瞬时精加工工具; 并且相对于工作区域移动光学元件以将边缘的不同部分暴露于流体预定的时间段以将边缘完成预定的程度。 流体的横向范围可以足够宽以允许在单个载体表面上同时抛光多个光学元件,或者可以组合多个精加工站以在多个载体表面上完成多个光学元件。