Technology and Special Works

FROM SUPER POLISHING TO POLISHING OF METALS AND CERAMIC MATERIALS

In the request for an optical component, the definition of constructive tolerances is of fundamental importance. This immediately characterizes the quality of the component, determining the level of feasibility.
Over the years, we have gained experience in polishing materials other than glass, such as metals like steel, aluminum, and ceramic materials such as Shapal.

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Gestione SILO, a reference point in the optical design sector, is always at the customer's service for high quality workmanship, with nanometric precision, even in special contexts such as materials used for space components.

SPECIAL MATERIALS AND GEOMETRIES

Inside our factory, we use machines (manual and CNC), ultrasound systems, ISO 5 hoods and vacuum chambers that allow you to work with all types of optical glass from reference catalogs: Schott, Hoya, Ohara CDGM. We have departments dedicated to the processing of raw materials such as Fused silica, Germanium, Silicon, ZnS, ZnSe, CaF2, MgF2.

Depending on the geometry of the optical element, we can work diameters from 4 to 600 mm with surface qualities that can reach up to λ / 20.

We produce roughness up to 0.6 nm (in relation to the material used) and we perform lapping on metals (flat, spherical surfaces and mandrels) with roughness up to 0.05 μm.

When requesting an optical component, it is vitally important to define the constructive tolerances necessary for its operation within the system. These tolerances by themselves immediately characterize the quality of the component, determining the level of feasibility and consequently its cost.

Freeform: In recent years, we have introduced and perfected work on CNC machines with particular asymmetrical geometries for the production of "freeform" optical components.

Super polishing: depending on the type of material and its geometry, we achieve laser finish and flatness up to λ / 20.

The ability to obtain restricted tolerances on the technical characteristics of one or more parameters has particular relevance for the purposes of performance within the systems where they are used. Gestione Silo, measuring itself over many years with stringent technical requirements, has acquired structured know-how for components with single or combined technical requirements.

POLISHING METAL AND CERAMIC MATERIALS

We can perform optical processing directly on metal substrates, in case of particular mechanical needs, resistance or integration within the system. Over the years, we have developed polishing processes and processes for metal components such as steel, copper, aluminum and nickel, boasting accuracy of up to λ / 10 and roughness below the nanometer.

We can apply on these substrates all the metallic treatments present in our coating catalog. In addition, we at Gestione SILO, a leader in optical design, are the reference point for mechanical machining and polishing on particular materials such as Shapal and ceramic in general that are widely used to make space components, thanks to the thermal-mechanic characteristics they are equipped with. Due to their high mechanical strength and corrosion resistance, high thermal conductivity, excellent purity and insulation, as well as a coefficient of thermal expansion comparable to that of silicon (Si), these products are among the most efficient on the market, always maintaining excellent workability. For this, Gestione SILO has developed production processes that allow us to obtain planarity and roughness of the optical level.