Loose abrasive line-contact machining of aspherical optical surfaces of revolution.

A new fabrication technique for the generation of optical aspherical surfaces of revolution is presented. This fabrication technique combines the characteristics of conventional loose abrasive machining with features of high-precision machining tools. A prototype of the machine tool based on this fabrication technique is currently being developed. We describe the characteristics of this method. Fabrication of aspherical ultraprecise surfaces using a tube is a line-contact method for the generation of both on- and off-axis, convex and concave, aspherical surfaces of revolution. It employs a self-correcting process and enables the use of loose-abrasive ductile grinding [Appl. Opt. 30, 2761-2777 (1991)] and subsequent bowl-feed polishing [Appl. Opt. 26, 696-703 (1987); Opt. Eng. 31, 1086-1092 (1992); Appl. Opt. 33, 89-95 (1994)] for the generation of aspherical surfaces.