Additive manufacturing (AM) enable new and innovative design forms that cannot be produced by conventional manufacturing methods. Space optical instruments are precision systems that require high resolution, light weight, low cost and short schedule. Metal AM technology is more adept to the fabrication of mirror blanks and support structures with complex shapes. In this study, selective laser melting (SLM) technology were utilized to create workpieces. The AlSi10Mg mirror blanks were fabricated with metallic powder bed fusion. After forming, post annealing process at 300 ℃ for 2 h was performed to relieve internal stresses. The microstructure of AlSi10Mg produced by SLM is compact, and the mechanical properties are much higher than the alloy formed by conventional casting. The single point diamond turning (SPDT) was been applied to deliver optical quality mirror. The surface characteristics of AM components have been measured. The turning surface meets the 8~11nm RMS and 1.05λ PV. This research can be used for the manufacturing of lightweight space optical mirrors and improve overall process efficiency.

Date Published: 18 December 2019
PDF: 6 pages
Proc. SPIE 11333, AOPC 2019: Advanced Laser Materials and Laser Technology, 113331I (18 December 2019); doi: 10.1117/12.2548108

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 11333:
AOPC 2019: Advanced Laser Materials and Laser Technology
Pu Zhou; Jian Zhang; Wenxue Li; Shibin Jiang; Takunori Taira, Editor(s)