Novel Mathematical Techniques for Advanced Tool-paths to Transform High-value Optical Fabrication
Lead Research Organisation:
Glyndwr University
Department Name: Engineering Research Centre
Abstract
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| Description | Using newly developed method, the efficiency of optical fabrication has been greatly improved. |
| Exploitation Route | This method has been associated to a software package. Other manufacturers can purchase this software or software add-ons. |
| Sectors | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology |
| Description | We have recently undertaken a commercial project where toolpath of Epicyclic nature has been adopted. This is the outcome of this research. This toolpath has demonstrated the advantage over standard raster toolpath that is commonly used. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2019 |
| Sector | Aerospace, Defence and Marine |
| Impact Types | Economic |
| Description | Capital investment in an Instrument to Measure Particle Size Distribution (PSD) |
| Amount | £34,954 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | ST/W005425/1 |
| Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2022 |
| End | 06/2022 |
| Description | Capital investment in equipment for measuring complex objects |
| Amount | £101,715 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | ST/X004945/1 |
| Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2022 |
| End | 03/2023 |
| Title | Epicyclic smoothing tool |
| Description | An Epicyclic smoothing tool has been developed to be able to used at robot facilities to smooth grinding marks. This tool is much more efficient in coping mid-spatial features. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | This tool will enable a fast process of mirrors or lens from grinding state to polishing state. This will bridge the gap between these two stage on processing and metrology. |
| Title | Epicyclic database |
| Description | This database provide recommanded process parameters when input with parts size, shape, form target. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | This database will potentially be used by our research collaborators in their research and development programmes. |
| Description | Collaboration agreement with Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT) |
| Organisation | Harbin Institute of Technology |
| Country | China |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We at Glyndwr University agreed to provide technical assistance and training opportunity for students and academic visitors. We also agreed to submit joint papers to peer-reviewed journals. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Collaborator at HIT agreed to provide experimental work, including technican's access of the lab equipments. |
| Impact | * One conference paper has been published * One journal paper is being edited * The PI Glyndwr has visited HIT * The collabator from HIT has visited Glyndwr University |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | Collaboration with Changchun Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, the Chinese Academy of Science |
| Organisation | Chinese Academy of Sciences |
| Department | China Changchun Institute of Optics Fine Mechanics and Physics |
| Country | China |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | I have visited this institute on 12/10/2017 and have given an invited talk at 2nd Aviation Metrology Department of Changchun Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, the Chinese Academic of Science. We have agreed on the further possibility of collaboration on research and development. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Institute agreed to subsidize academic students/ visitors to our University for further training. |
| Impact | One PhD student is supported to visit the UK. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Collaboration with Zeeko Ltd. |
| Organisation | Zeeko Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We have developed software that is suitable for industrial robots to perform intermediate process between polishing and grinding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Zeeko has provided a FANUC robot to facilitate research and development programmes and some technical assistant on facility development. |
| Impact | 1. The process developed from this project will be adopted by other projects. e.g. LOCUS M1 processing. 2. Zeeko has commercial interest for this process. |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Title | Epicyclic Toolpath Generation with ABB and FANUC machine settings |
| Description | This is an add-on package to a commercial software which enable intelligent polishing machines to produce ultra precision optical surfaces. This software package can generate optimised toolpath to minimise surface error. This software also have the option to operate on ABB and FANUC industrial robots. |
| Type Of Technology | Software |
| Year Produced | 2015 |
| Impact | This software will enable a process that will shorten total fabrication time by parallel processing. In addition, the optimised toolpath offer a surface with improvement on mid-spatial errors. |
| Description | Facility introduction to AstroTrac |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Introduction of staffs from AstroTrac about the role of robot processing for high precision optics. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Invited seminar on Advanced Ultra Precision Surfaces Processing |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | This invited seminar is to present our recent work on processing ultra precision surfaces. The audiences are mainly scientists and postgraduate students. There are more than 30 people attended. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Invited seminar on Autonomous Manufacturing in Ultra Precision Section |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | This invited seminar was presented mainly towards postgraduate students and academics. Some undergraduates also turned up so that there were nearly 80 people attended. The students asked some relevant questions after the talk. One academic wish to visit our laboratory in 2018. The university all inquiry about joint degree scheme in the future. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |