At Optimax, we are continuously looking for ways to improve our fabrication processes in order to produce higher quality optics. Our R&D department actively pursues projects that provide benefit by manufacturing optics better, quicker, and more cost-effectively.
Many projects are confidential industrial partnerships while others are collaborations with universities and national laboratories.
Why design with freeforms?
Designing with freeforms will make your project have fewer elements, lighter weight, and increased flexibility. In the end, designing with freeforms will give you better performance overall.
VIBE™ Rapid Polishing Process to Smooth Optical Surfaces
The VIBE process is a full-aperture, conformal polishing process that uses high-frequency and random motion to rapidly remove sub-surface damage and eliminate mid-spatial-frequency surface errors.
Better polishing with robotics.
Our robotic polishing platforms are able to polish large, difficult-to-make optical surfaces with minimal surface error.
Coating Capabilities
In our state-of-the-art cleanroom coating facility, Optimax produces custom optical coatings in faster time with less risk, sizes up to 500mm.
Optimax has received a number of Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants over the years. These grants, administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Technology, allow government programs to benefit from small businesses’ nimble development to commercialize new technologies.
| Current: | Type: | Start Year: | Agency: |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Optical Systems and Fabrication/Testing/Control Technologies for EUV/Optical and IR Telescope | SBIR Phase I | 2020 | National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
| Monolithic Multi-surface Precision Optics for Smallsats and Cubesats, using Freeform Surface Definitions | SBIR Phase II | 2020 | Department of Defense MDA |
| Additive manufacturing and thin film coating development for lightweight directed energy reflective optics | SBIR Phase II | 2020 | Department of Defense MDA |
Our ongoing development, whether it’s technology developed during SBIR projects or through other projects, allows us to enhance our high precision optics that we offer to all of our customers.
Laser mirrors are qualified in our laser metrology labs
DUV processes yield greater transmission for short-wavelength semiconductor applications.
DUV processes yield greater transmission for short-wavelength semiconductor applications.
Learn More about our Capabilities
Enables tight post-coating wavefront control on complex mirror geometries
Optimax utilizes specialized fabrication, coating, cleaning, handling, and packaging processes.
Freeforms with low total error, increase wavefront performance, and precise surface positioning.
New metrology solutions developed for high precision freeform optics
Optimax manufactures precision optical components for a wide variety of applications. We have a proven track record in aerospace and fundamental research and development, and for OEM production projects in semiconductor, military and medical instruments. Optimax is dedicated to supporting projects that require:
As applications become more demanding and optical engineers get more creative, requirements for optical components go beyond current manufacturing capabilities. Our master opticians love a good challenge. So at any given time, Optimax has about 6 edgy jobs in house, i.e. jobs for optical components that require manufacturing engineering to make the optics. Because we only make optical components, all of our engineers – optical, mechanical, chemical, and industrial – focus their energy on how to make optics faster, more cost-effective and/or higher precision than we did yesterday.
Historically, R&D and the optical manufacturing shop floor have been independent entities. Optimax tests and utilizes new technology and techniques faster by integrating the two departments. This is done through the addition of a research assistant role in the lean manufacturing cell. Research assistants are Optimax opticians who have been specially trained in Design of Experiment (DOE) best practices. Research assistants perform experiments parallel to production in their lean cells. The result? Robust processes and techniques deployed faster for our customers.
Want to find out more about the innovation and ideology that is happening here at Optimax Systems. View and download our Technical Papers:
Optimax has developed a robust freeform optical fabrication CNC process that includes generation, high speed VIBE polishing, sub-aperture figure correction, surface smoothing and testing of freeform surfaces
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Optimax achieves operational excellence by investing in cutting-edge technology, advancing its people, and sharing 25% of monthly profits with employees, but don't take just our word
Read moreOptimax has worked to develop a culture centered on innovation. Ask any employee: Optimax is fueled by new ideas and complex problem solving.
Sure, Optimax is fun—you can see it in our tie dye t-shirts and laid back attitude. But we define fun differently: challenging, fast-paced work drives us. Our talented workforce is dedicated to lifelong learning and innovative thought.
This pays off for our customers in many aspects of our lean manufacturing model.
Optimax leads the way in offering the highest tech facilities and greatest capabilities. Driven by our customers’ needs, we’ve recently completed a 20,000 square-foot expansion to our manufacturing facility in Ontario, N.Y. The new addition offers customers the most innovative equipment, including:
Optimax’s training program has grown and improved to match. New employees are extensively cross-trained for full system understanding. The new facilities, staff and equipment doubles our capacity for the manufacturing and testing of optical components.
We made the commitment to expand so that we can continue to fulfill our promise of on-time delivery of high-quality prototype optics. For our customers, this will mean faster turnaround times and tighter achievable tolerances this year.
Contact sales@optimaxsi.com to schedule a visit or learn more about our expanded capabilities.
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