Re: ATM Aluminium mirrors

[Kevin McCarthy <sigma@mediaone.net>]

Elfe:
Modern diamond turning machines, with ultra-precise air bearing guideways, are doing
amazing things.  The last time I checked, these could produce optics that were
diffraction-limited in the near-IR region.  Surface smoothness and, to a lesser
degree, overall surface figure are a bit of a challenge for visible optics.  This
said, there is something magical about seeing a piece of garden variety 6061
aluminum, with a rough and chalky finish due to bad finishing and storage, turn into
a PERFECT MIRROR as it passes under the diamond point in a turning operation.  Having
seen lots of conventional first surface mirrors, I have to say that I can't tell the
difference visually.  There's a big business in the ultra-precision CNC fabrication
of aluminum optical surfaces.   The debatable issue is whether the product of these
machines will ever hit the cost or surface accuracy / smoothness targets we need.  A
good web link to the latest machine that translates raw aluminum into finished mirror
is:
http://www.precitech.com/micro300.htm
Stay tuned.

Kevin McCarthy

Elfe wrote:

> Hi,
>
> does anyone have made a mirror of aluminium instead of glass?? (not the coatings)
> If so please send me some information about it.
>
> Thanks
>        Karsten