Ion Beam Figuring Technology in Optics Manufacturing

Abstract

Abstract Ion beam technologies have become an established alternative to common mechanical polishing methods in manufacturing optics. Ion Beam Figuring (IBF) is increasingly being used for the precise figuring and finishing of optical elements, such as spheres, aspheres and free forms on lenses and mirrors. Next to the finishing of optical components, an IBF process can also be employed on the molds that are used to produce optical lenses. The mold pins that are employed in the consumer goods market usually require a fairly high financial investment. As the quality of a lens ultimately depends on the surface of the optical mold, an error correction process on the mold itself may proof a more cost effective exercise than the polishing of the lenses post‐production.