Shoulder Damage Model and Its Application for Single Point Diamond Machining of ZnSe Crystal

The damaging of ZnSe crystal has a significant impact on its service performance and life. Based on the specific cutting energies for brittle and ductile mode machining, a model is proposed to evaluate the damage depth in the shoulder region of ZnSe crystal during single point diamond machining. The model considers the brittle-ductile transition and spring back of ZnSe crystal. To verify the model, the elastic modulus, hardness, spring back, and friction coefficient of ZnSe crystal are measured by nanoindentation and nanoscratch tests, and its critical undeformed chip thickness is obtained by spiral scratching. Meanwhile, orthogonal cutting experiments are conducted to obtain the different shoulder regions and cutting surfaces. The shoulder damage depth is analyzed, indicating that the effect of the feed on the damage depth at a high cutting depth is stronger than that at a low one. The model is verified to be effective with an average relative error of less than 7%. Then, the model is used to calculate the critical processing parameters and achieve a smooth ZnSe surface with a roughness Sa = 1.0 nm. The model is also extended to efficiently predict the bound of the subsurface damage depth of a cutting surface. The research would be useful for the evaluation of surface and subsurface damages during the ultra-precision machining of ZnSe crystal.

Ultra-Precision Machining: Cutting With Diamond Tools

This article is written as a tribute to Professor Frederick Fongsun Ling 1927–2014. Single-point diamond machining, a subset of a broader class of processes characterized as ultraprecision machining, is used for the creation of surfaces and components with nanometer scale surface roughnesses, and submicrometer scale geometrical form accuracies. Its initial development centered mainly on the machining of optics for energy and defense related needs. Today, diamond machining has broad applications that include the manufacture of precision freeform optics for defense and commercial applications, the structuring of surfaces for functional performance, and the creation of molds used for the replication of a broad range of components in plastic or glass. The present work focuses on a brief review of the technology. First addressed is the state of current understanding of the mechanics that govern the process including the resulting forces, energies and the size effect, forces when cutting single crystals, and resulting cutting temperatures. Efforts to model the process are then described. The workpiece material response when cutting ductile and brittle materials is also included. Then the present state of the art in machine tools, diamond tools and tool development, various cutting configurations used, and some examples of diamond machined surfaces and components are presented. A discussion on the measurement of surface topography, geometrical form, and subsurface damage of diamond machined surfaces is also included.

Effective Optical System Assembly Using Ultra-Precise Manufactured References

The present work demonstrates that exactly manufactured references for joining, mounting, and metrology purposes are crucial in the effective assembly of high-quality optical systems. Based on the alignment turning of spherical and aspherical lenses, the proposed approach can be transferred to non-rotational symmetric elements such as prisms, active components (e.g., laser diodes), and freeform mirrors. The complexity of the optical component decides whether on-machine metrology or specific measurement setups need to be used to determine the position and orientation of the references with respect to the optical function. The resulting correction data are considered during the machining process. The subsequent correction cycle realizes mounting and metrology references down to sub-micron precision using diamond-machining techniques. This approach facilitates the assembly of demanding optical systems and even freeform arrangements in a predictable and passive manner. Different machining setups as well as the corresponding metrology approaches are demonstrated, and results are presented for representative components. The effectiveness of the approach is discussed using rotationally symmetrical lens systems and a snap-together freeform mirror system.