| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/S85337/01 |
| Title: |
Basic Technology: Ultra Precision Surfaces: A new paradigm (accuracy capability of 1 part 10 to the power of 8) |
| Principal Investigator: |
Shore, Professor P |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Sch of Industrial and Manufacturing Scie |
| Organisation: |
Cranfield University |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
01 April 2004 |
Ends: |
30 June 2008 |
Value (£): |
2,174,578
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Lasers & Optics |
Surfaces & Interfaces |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
| Aerospace, Defence and Marine |
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| Related Grants: |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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This proposal - and the parallel proposal from UCL - seeks to develop an integrated world-class facility for processing precision surfaces with form accuracy of 1 part in 108. This will underpin the UK's science base by producing optical surfaces for research applications, and will itself provide a research-vehicle for subsequent investigation of the physical and chemical processes underlying material removal at the micron to sub-nanometre levels. At Cranfield two pioneering research facilities for producing complex form optical surfaces will be developed. The first facility will be an inherently precise fixed abrasive machining system based on the Tetraform concept. It will be capable of reliably machining surfaces to below 1 micron error over 1 metre and through its high dynamic stiffness permit hard materials to be machined at significantly higher material removal rates with minimal subsurface damage. The second Cranfield facility will be based on a re-active atomic plasma technology which is at an embryonic development stage. This non contacting plasma technology will be developed into a rapid figure correcting technology for ultra smooth large optics. A new non-contacting figure correcting system will be developed and capable to figure large surfaces to an accuracy of 1 part in 108.The UCL and Cranfield facilities will be implemented together at OpTiC, N. Wales where collaborative research will then be directed towards an overall total process optimisation of the surface processing route for ultra precise surfaces - an area poorly researched hitherto and ripe for development.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.cranfield.ac.uk |