Advancements in robotic smoothing of high precision optics

Many optics applications, including x-ray synchrotron systems and space applications, require increasingly precise mirrors to enable diffraction limited focusing of x-ray beams. These mirrors require nanometer level form error and extremely tight tolerances in the mid-spatial frequency and surface roughness ranges. This talk will discuss efforts at Optimax to address this need through advancement of robotic smoothing platforms and processes. Specifically, process refinement results using a large robot, with up to a 1 meter reach, will be shared.