Capabilities
At the Optical Engineering & Fabrication Facility, we have a diverse range of capabilities. Read more about what we can do below.
Optical Fabrication & Testing
At OEFF we specialize in the fabrication and testing of large meter class optics. We have fabricated some of the most technically challenging optics in the world. Our dedication to our customers through innovation may be seen in the following example:
The 4.2 meter DKIST Off-Axis Parabola (OAP) primary mirror was fabricated in our facility. In approximately 13 months the OEFF team finished the mirror with the following specifications:
- The BRDF of 1.0 sr-1 at 0.002 radians from the specular direction.
- The Irregularity was 4.4 nm RMS over a 120 mm diameter.
- The Surface Figure was 16.9 nm RMS over a 4 meter diameter.
- The Surface Finish was 1.0 nm RMS over 2×2 mm.
Optical System Design & Development
The OEFF group has developed several metrology systems necessary for testing the meter class optics we produce. Our team has deployed three variations of Deflectometry systems to compare with Interferometry: Software Configurable Optical Test System (SCOTS) for testing in the visible wavelength range, Scanning Long-wave Optical Test System (SLOTS) also called IR SCOTS for testing in the infrared wavelength range, and Slope-measuring Portable Optical Test System (SPOTS) for measuring mid to high spatial frequencies ranging from 20 cyc/m to 1000 cyc/m. These three optical systems have been deployed in measuring both DKIST and TAO.
Optical System Integration, Alignment & Verification
The OEFF group has performed Systems Integration, Alignment, and Verification for high profile projects including OSIRIS-REX and HOBBY-EBERLY TELESCOPE. The largest camera in the OSIRIS-REX project named POLYCAM was assembled and verified in the OEFF Clean Room. The HET Wide Field Spherical Aberration Corrector was assembled and verified in the OEFF Large Optics Shop.