The subject of optical fabrication and testing spans an enormous range of manufacturing procedures and optical test configurations.

I. Glass Blank Manufacturing

• Batch mixing
• Pouring and casting techniques
• Annealing schedules and equipment
• Physical characterization techniques
• Index of refraction measurements and calculation of melt pedigree

II. Diamond Shaping Techniques

• Diamond wheel curve generation processes and equipment
• Diamond edging processes and equipment

III. Loose Grit Fabrication Techniques:

• Rough grinding
• Fine grinding
• Polishing and figuring

IV. Single-Point Diamond Turning processes and equipment

V. Optical Testing Techniques

• Direct surface profile measurement
• Direct surface surveying (no intervening optics, e.g. Foucault, Ronchi, Caustic Testing)
• Auxiliary optics (null correctors, computer generated holograms, etc.)
• Interferometric testing

Reference

• Malacara, D., Optical Shop Testing - 2nd Edition, John Wiley and Sons, 1992, ISBN 0-471-52232-5

Optics