Technique Links

Glass Loading

Casting

Lifting

Cleaning

Grinding

Polishing

Testing

Integration

Shipping

Mirror Polishing Techniques

	Polishing a 6.5-m mirror on the Large Optical Generator (LOG) using the stressed-lap polishing tool. The lap changes shape dynamically as it moves radially from center-to-edge of the mirror to produce a paraboloid. Our 6.5-m mirrors are typically figured to a focal ratio of f/1.25 with a finished precision of ± 15-20 nanometers.
	Polishing lap on edge of 6.5-m mirror showing square pitch-lap polishing surface.
	LBT 2 being polished on the Large Polishing Machine (LPM) with the stressed-lap polishing tool. The outer edge is being polished with a small tool (partially obscured in foreground).