Development of a rubber-bonded grinding wheel - Studies on asperical grinding -

Aspherical surfaces are an important technology in optical instruments. Until now, only improvements in form accuracy and surface roughness of aspherical surfaces have been investigated. However, when the surface roughness becomes low, the small waviness of the surface becomes marked. This small waviness is termed "Nano-topography." Nano-topography causes grinding marks and reduces the accuracy of an optical instrument. Nano-topography is caused by the vibration of a grinding wheel during the manufacture of the surface. This paper will reveal how a rubber-bonded grinding wheel has been developed to absorb that vibration. The dressing of the grinding wheel was also investigated. As a result, it is possible to eliminate the generation of nano-topography.