Comparative analysis study of 43-point and 27-point buyoff stations for stressed mirror polishing (SMP) metrology

As a collaborative effort within the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) project, India is committed to supplying 84 polished segments for the primary mirror, employing the innovative Stressed Mirror Polishing (SMP) technology obtained from Coherent Inc., USA. SMP allows for the efficient polishing of highly aspheric non-axisymmetrical glass blanks at an accelerated rate. India-TMT (I-TMT) successfully applied SMP to qualify three glass roundels at Coherent's facility in Richmond, CA. The study focuses on a comparative analysis of Buyoff Stations (BOS) used in the SMP process. It contrasts results from the 43-point hydraulic-based BOS at Coherent with simulated outcomes from the 27-point whiffletree-based BOS at I-TMT. This analysis assesses efficacy and performance differences between the two BOS configurations, involving a comprehensive examination of a 1520mm diameter polished glass roundel. The study integrates Finite Element Method (FEM) simulations with experimental data, providing insights into the efficiency of the respective BOS setups.