Capabilities

Optical Substrates

Nu-Tek works with most substrates that are commonly used to produce optics, including those listed below and others

• Optical crown and flint glasses such as Schott's BK7, SK5, LaKN7, F2, SF56 and similar glasses.
• Pyrex
• Fused Silica and Fused Quartz
• Low expansion substrates such as Zerodur, ULE, and Sitall
• Ceramics
• Crystalline materials including Zinc Sulfide/Cleartran (ZnS), Zinc Selenide (ZnSe), Silicon (Si), Germanium (Ge), Cadmium Telluride (CdTe), Barium Fluoride (BaF2), Sodium Chloride (NaCl), Calcium Fluoride (CaF2), Sapphire (Al2O3), Spinel (MgAl2O4)
• Metals including Aluminum, Stainless Steel, Nickel, Copper
• Nu-Tek will take on limited work in Beryllium and substrates containing Beryllium

Metal Optics

Nu-Tek has developed a number of processes for producing high optical quality metal optics, particularly with bare Aluminum suitable for UV and visible applications. We routinely lap flat metal optics in Aluminum, Stainless, Nickel, and Copper to about 18-inch diameter, flatness to about 1/10 wave Peak-to-Valley. Some curved metal optics are also lapped to an optical finish. Commonly, we will diamond turn metal parts up to about 18-inch diameter, yielding a 20-60 Angstrom RMS finish for smaller pieces with surface roughness degrading somewhat with overall size and figure. While the finish is often adequate right off the machine, it is common for us to post-polish the parts to further improve surface roughness and figure.  

Flat Optics

We typically handle flats to 18 inches and 1/10 wave. Larger sizes can be quoted. We will quote to 1/20 on many flat optics depending on size and substrate. Most common scratch-dig quoted is 60-40, although we routinely quote to 10-5. Some substrates, including Pyrex, Fused-Silica and Zerodur can be superpolished to 1-3 Angstroms RMS.  

Spherical Optics

Nu-Tek commonly produces plano-convex, plano-concave, meniscus, biconvex, and biconcave lenses made of optical glass to about 12 inches in diameter, although we will quote larger sizes. Spherical mirrors are routinely made to 60 inch diameter. Spherical elements are often made to 1/4 wave accuracy, but it is not uncommon to provide these optics to 1/20 wave or better. Typical surface quality is a 60-40 finish although we routinely quote to 10-5. Some substrates, including Pyrex, Fused-Silica and Zerodur can be superpolished to 1-3 Angstroms RMS.  

Aspheric Optics

Large aspheric mirrors are a specialty at Nu-Tek. We routinely make concave and convex paraboloids, hyperboloids, ellipsoids, and oblate ellipsoids to 40 inch diameter. We will quote up to 60 inches. We have recently completed lightweighted Zerodur off-axis aspheric mirrors as sharp as f/0.5. It is common for these optics to be used in on-axis or off-axis telescopes and laser beam expanders.  

Optical Systems and Design

Nu-Tek has the in-house capability to design and build complete optical systems. We have a number of in-house designs for transmissive, reflective, and catadioptric telescopes, collimators, and laser beam expanders. Some of our beam expanders have been delivered to 1/10 wave peak-to-valley maximum wavefront distortion specs.  

If you have any questions about Nu-Tek's capabilities, give us a call or send us an email at info@nu-tek-optics.com.

Contact Information

Questions or Comments?  Give us a call or drop us a line. Our sales staff is always ready to help.

Postal Address

1202 Technology Drive Suites L-P

Aberdeen, MD 21001

410-273-7070

410-273-7618 FAX

Electronic Mail

General Information: info@nu-tek-optics.com
Sales: sales@nu-tek-optics.com
Webmaster: webmaster@nu-tek-optics.com