Materion Expands Large-Optics Coating Capabilities

To better support astronomy and space applications, Materion Barr Precision Optics & Thin Film Coatings, a Materion Corp. business, is about to complete an 18-month enhancement project focused on the manufacturing and testing of its optical filters and coatings.

The plant will include a high-vacuum deposition system, a metrology set to test large coated optical elements and a precision wash station to clean large optical substrates. New cleanroom equipment will enable precise deposition and testing of complex interference filters consisting of a few layers to well over 100 on substrates up to 1.4 m in diameter.

Materion currently can coat narrow bandpass filters around 60 cm in diameter; the goal is to increase this size to 75 cm. Additionally, the company plans to focus on developing precision beamsplitters up to 100 cm in diameter as well as mirrors and anti-reflection coatings up to 140 cm diagonal/diameter for specialized astronomical and space applications.

Materion will use the new system to support several large ground-based telescopes in development as well as space programs, worldwide observatories and space hardware contractors.

Delivery of the system is scheduled for December, with operation commissioned for the first quarter of 2013.

For more information, visit: www.materion.com