Diamond Turning At Honeywell

Floyd E. Johnson

doi:10.1117/12.956839

27 October 1978 Diamond Turning At Honeywell

Floyd E. Johnson

Proceedings Volume 0159, Precision Machining of Optics; (1978) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.956839
Event: 22nd Annual Technical Symposium, 1978, San Diego, United States

Abstract

The application of diamond turning technology has made it possible for Honeywell, who possesses limited conventional optical fabrication capability, to rapidly become its own supplier of lower-cost infrared optics for in-house production programs. The achievement was originally instigated by an AFML MM&T program and is part of a two-phase plan outlined as this symposium in 1976. Phase I of the plan called for Honeywell, entirely on its own funds, to acquire a diamond flycutter to initially become familiar with the process and finally to produce usable infrared flat mirrors. Although the cycle required ten months of learning and some machine improvements, significant cost savings are now being accrued from the production of scanning and flat mirrors for thermal imaging systems. Phase II of the plan was commenced in 1977 by AFML sponsorship of a program to transfer diamond contouring machine technology from government laboratories initially to Honeywell so that broader industrial usage of infrared aspheric optics could result. Also, an NV&EOL contract is reinforcing the plan by utilizing Air Force program results to build and test aspheric diamond turned lenses and mirrors for Army infrared applications. Contract results are being publicized -through reports and briefings. Within the plan, Honeywell is committing funds to obtain a 2-axis CNC contouring machine, the required optical metrology, and the temperature-controlled facilities. Because continued cost-saving success is expected from the aspheric capability, as has been demonstrated with the flycutter on flat infrared mirrors, Honeywell hopes to become a production optics supplier to the DoD/DoE community by contributing its systems, computer science, and optical testing expertise.

Citation Download Citation

Floyd E. Johnson "Diamond Turning At Honeywell", Proc. SPIE 0159, Precision Machining of Optics, (27 October 1978); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.956839

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