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Completed TRL 6 (started at 4, targeting 9)
Project Objective
Developed a system to perform in-situ metrology on all of our optics in the production phase.
Project Description
The system utilizes a 4D Nanocam that is attached to multiple stages on a moving cart that will allow it to be moved from work station to work station to obtain surface figure roughness without having to remove the optic from its polishing or diamond turning mount.
Project Results and Conclusions
The end goal of the product would be to obtain in-situ roughness measurements of optics during the diamond turning and polishing process for all of our machines. It is a portable microscope interferometer on a gantry system that allows for us to move it easily to each machine and measure the optics without removing them which saves us from risking damage to the optic and the time to remove it and the put it back up and align it.
All the components for the system have been procured and currently the system is under construction and testing to ensure that the system performs as intended.
Currently the amount of time required to move an optic for measurements can use up anywhere from a few days worth of time to multiple weeks and add risk for each move, which can occur dozens of time over the course of an optics development. By measuring roughness on the machine without removing it, we will save a significant amount of time (days to weeks) per optic, which will save on schedule and reduce time spent per optic significantly. This technology development will be used for both the POEMM balloon and the PRIMA probe missions.
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