Conventional Polishing
Pitch Polishing at Yudi Optics
Yudi Optics uses asphalt technology for high-precision spherical and flat polishing of optical crystals, optical glass and fused quartz. “Conventional Pitch Polishing” is a traditional polishing technique in optical processing, usually using a material called “pitch” as a grinding tool. This method is also known as “pitch polishing”. During the polishing process, abrasive material (usually abrasive fluid or abrasive particles) is added to the pitch surface. These particles roll over the pitch surface, grinding the workpiece surface at the same time. This process provides excellent surface shape and surface quality. We currently have a large range of continuous single-sided polishing rings available in different sizes to accommodate the optical polishing of substrates from 3mm to 1000mm. Each lap can be configured to specific requirements and can currently be polished on any material listed on our materials page.
Our skilled technicians have many years of experience in custom optical polishing and have an in-depth understanding of a variety of materials and their material properties so they can tailor the process to achieve a perfect finish without causing subsurface damage to the part or stress. We guarantee an optimized process with complete control over key polishing parameters such as speed, pressure, and removal rate required for a perfect optical surface finish.
Moreover, Yudi has developed its optical tooling and test plate list. This allows designs to be designed around the tooling list which can save on tooling costs and delivery times.
Advantages of Conventional Pitch Polishing
The fluidity of asphalt makes it suitable for a variety of optics shapes, including curved surfaces and unconventional shapes.
Pitch is a self-fluid material that distributes evenly over optical surfaces. This facilitates rapid grinding and polishing, improving production efficiency.
If the lens is able to be designed around Yudi’s test plate list no tooling charge necessary.
For tight surface figure tolerances pitch polishing can offer excellent results.
Yudi Optics - Where Tradition Meets Precision, Defining Excellence in Polishing
In the realm of polishing technologies, the pinnacle achieved through traditional polishing squarely rests on the operator’s technical prowess. At Yudi, our seasoned technicians, armed with three decades of experience in navigating the intricacies of the most complex tool shapes, elevate our efficiency and precision above and beyond our peers.
Our skilled opticians have perfected the art and science of conventional polishing, also known as single-sided polishing. While surface flatness over a full clear aperture can be attained down to λ/20 PV, it is possible to reach surface flatness tolerances of λ/40 PV over smaller sub apertures.
Our engineer team have passed down precision polishing techniques from generation to generation. Consequently, our proprietary techniques produce precision parts with surface roughness down to 3 Å RMS, ideal for laser applications requiring minimal scatter and maximum performance.
Fast & Precision at Inspection
Visual inspection of surface finish is an intuitive method of initial assessment. Visual inspection can help determine whether there are obvious blemishes or defects on the surface.
Use an interferometer for surface detection. By measuring the interference patterns of light, the shape, curvature, and other parameters of optical surfaces can be more accurately assessed.
Turn Your Optical Design into Optics
We utilize cutting-edge technologies and manufacturing techniques to design, prototype, and manufacture custom optical lenses, optical mirrors, and many more optical components to meet your requirements.
Explore Our Other Polishing Technologies
To meet the diverse optical requirements, Yudi takes advantage of each polishing technology to offer a real all-in-one custom optic solution to clients whether it is simple or challenging.
Leveraging CNC polishing technology, Yudi excels in rapid mass production while seamlessly integrating intricate designs, superior precision, and cost-effectiveness.It has been the most widely used in common optic production.
With non-contact Ion Beam polishing technology, Yudi can polish custom optics up to thousands of millimeters in diameter with high precision, low error, and no subsurface or edge defects. We reliably deliver high-end surface quality with nanoscale precision.
Yudi Intelligent Robotic Polisher is equipped with an intelligent system to automatically achieve high-precision polishing, significantly improving efficiency and achieving sub-micron-level surface accuracy for manufacturing more complex optics.
Yudi Optics employs Magnetorheological Finishing (MRF) for high-precision optical polishing, achieving exceptional surface quality and accuracy. MRF is ideal for applications demanding superior precision, including aerospace and defense sectors.