We describe our work towards the manufacture of micro-optical arrays using freeform diamond machining techniques. Simulations have been done to show the feasibility of manufacturing micro-lens arrays using the slow-tool servo method. Using this technique, master shapes can be produced for replication of micro-lens arrays of either epoxy-on-glass or monolthic glass types. A machine tool path programme has been developed on the machine software platform DIFFSYS, allowing the production of spherical, aspherical and toric arrays. In addition, in theory spatially varying lenslets, sparse arrays and dithered lenslet arrays (for high contrast applications) are possible to produce. In practice, due to the diamond tool limitations not all formats are feasible. Investigations into solving this problem have been carried out and a solution is presented here.

Date Published: 6 July 2006
PDF: 8 pages
Proc. SPIE 6273, Optomechanical Technologies for Astronomy, 62731T (6 July 2006); doi: 10.1117/12.671228

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 6273:
Optomechanical Technologies for Astronomy
Eli Atad-Ettedgui; Joseph Antebi; Dietrich Lemke, Editor(s)