Blue Ridge Optics supplies both custom and made-to-order standard laser optics, optical polishing components, and thin film coatings for a wide range of applications. From Dielectric Coatings to Conductive (ITO) coatings, our precision optical lens are designed for the most sophisticated scientific and industrial applications.
Our optical fabrication capabilities include double-sided lapping and polishing with planetary action, high speed and mrf polishing, and CNC lens manufacturing.
We offer our clients low-volume R&D laser optic solutions customized to meet their specific needs. In addition, we are able to create high-volume production in nearly every type of optical material, shape, and size.
Optical Materials
Standard Materials
BK7
CaF2
Infrasil
Fused Silica
Magnesium Fluoride (MgF2)
Sapphire
Suprasil
Hybrid & Custom Materials
Infrared Materials
CaF2 (IR)
Cleartran
IG Glass
Germanium
Silicon
Crystals and Gain Materials
Alexandrite
BBO / LBO Crystal
KTA / KTP Crystal
Phosphate Glass
Lithium Niobate (KNbO3)
RBBF
Ti:Sapphire
Vanadate (YVO4)
YLF
YAG (Doped: Er, Nd, Yb)
ZnSe (Standard & Doped: Fe, Cr)
Hybrid & Custom Crystals
Fabrication Technology
CNC Blanking, Shaping & Polishing
MRF Finishing, Super Polish
Continuous Lappers (12-72″)
Double Sided Lappers
Achievable Specifications
Dimensions: 0.1 – 457mm (Cross Sections)
Surface Quality: < 10-5
Flatness: 1/40 Wave @ 632.8nm (RWE)
TWE: 1/40 Wave @ 632.8nm (TWE)
RMS: <1 Angstrom RMS
Double-sided planetary lapping and polishing from Blue Ridge Optics uses a top and bottom plate to grind and polish your precision optical component, making its twin sides completely parallel.
Our double-sided processing technique involves planetary action in order to abrade material equally from both faces of your optical substrate.
In addition to our double-sided polishers, we also have:
Spindle Polishers
15-72” Continuous Polishers
Hybrid Polishers (YAG, Ruby, and Sapphire)
With multiple large continuous polishers of up to 72”, as well as our high-compression, double-sided planetary action polishers, Blue Ridge can manufacture optics from 0.25 – 14+”.
CNC Lens Manufacturing
Blue Ridge employs high-speed Computer-Numerically-Controlled (CNC) instruments and equipment for the grinding and centering of your precision optical components. Our CNC optical grinding equipment ensures that your optics meet our rigorous specifications and standards.
For standard to custom shapes from 5-150mm, our 5-Axis multi-head CNC platform allows us to precisely manufacture blanks and complexly-shaped optics. Optical fabrication and measurement go hand in glove, and every optical component that we manufacture is measured in our state-of-the-art metrology lab.
MRF and Superpolish
At Blue Ridge, we employ the process of magnetorheological finishing (MRF), using an interferometrically-informed subaperture tool to correct waveform errors by selectively removing materials from an optical surface.
In relying on a computer, MRF removes the need for individuals to manually finish an optical surface, greatly reducing human error from the process of optical fabrication. Blue Ridge offers MRF final finishing from 0.5 – 76.2mm OD, <1Å RMS Roughness, and L/60 RWE/TWE.
In addition, our super-polished surfaces are available with λ/10 flatness, 10-5 scratch-dig, and 2-5Å polish.
