Optics is one of the essential technologies for our laboratory.
Composed of a fleet of eight machine tools, the optics workshop offers the possibility of producing high-precision optical surfaces (Lambda/20), as well as parts of all kinds that can be justified by precision optics processes and techniques, such as the polishing of lenses, mirrors, prisms, cube corners, in glass, silica or in various types of crystals.
This know-how can be applied, if necessary, to other fields: lapping and flatness control of metal surfaces, machining of glass-ceramics. The topographic control of polished surfaces is carried out with a Fizeau interferometer. It is also possible to produce thin optical layers: metal and dielectric deposits, controlled by a quartz balance and a photometer.
Finally, the workshop is associated with the CNRS Professional Optics and Photonics Network, which promotes exchanges and collaborations.
Below is the trailer on precision polishing. The profession of precision optician is a rare source at the CNRS and in our institutions, but very valuable in terms of its know-how for our laboratories. This rarity of skills is certainly at the origin of the trial and error and know-how “reinvented” in a more or less successful manner. This Film on optical polishing aims to describe the basic techniques and know-how of the profession of precision optician for our laboratories. This profession has not been taught in France since 2001.
The 47-minute film traces the course of the manufacture, polishing and control of a Ø 60 mm glass slide in three stages:
- Roughing (shaping the component from the material).
- Smoothing (final dimensions, minimum roughness and flatness before polishing).
- Polishing and interference control.
It was produced by Christian Beurthe (IOGS), Thierry Billeton (LPL), Michelle Jacquet (INSP retired) and Jean-Claude Quilliec (Lycée Fresnel, retired).
Please find the optical workshop directory by clicking here.