OREANDA-NEWS. Shvabe Holding was granted a Russian patent for its invention, a method of determining aspherical abraded surface profile.

The method proposed by specialists from Lytkarino Optical Glass Factory OJSC, a Shvabe Holding enterprise, for measuring the profile of an abraded surface of large-size optical parts uses a three-point linear spherometer fitted with an additional height-adjustable lateral leg. The invention makes it possible to build an absolute profile of deviations of the aspherical surface shape from the required theoretical shape, ensuring at the same time required precision (vertex radius deviation from the pre-determined value is below 0.03-0.05%), and achieve the required vertex radius in the shaping process.

"The existing alternative measurement options are inferior to our method in terms of various parameters. They are either bulky or require much effort, or are not precise enough, or are designed to control mirrors with a relative small diameter (not more than 1.5 m)," says Nikolay Rakovich, Deputy General Director for R&D and Innovative Development, Shvabe JSC.

The new method of determining aspherical abraded surface profile can be applied to shape aspherical surfaces of large-size optical parts, in particular to control the parameters of large-size mirrors used in telescopes. In the short term, Lytkarino Optical Glass Factory OJSC will start active application of this method.