title: Belt-MRF for large aperture mirrors.
abstract: With high-determinacy and no subsurface damage, Magnetorheological Finishing (MRF) has become an important tool in fabricating high-precision optics. But for large mirrors, the application of MRF is restricted by its small removal function and low material removal rate. In order to improve the material removal rate, shorten the processing cycle, we proposed a new MRF concept, named Belt-MRF to expand the application of MRF to large mirrors and made a prototype with a large remove function, using a belt instead of a very large polishing wheel to expand the polishing length. A series of experimental results on Silicon carbide (SiC) and BK 7 specimens and fabrication simulation verified that the Belt-MRF has high material removal rates, stable removal function and high convergence efficiency which makes it a promising technology for processing large aperture optical elements.
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Ligong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Longxiang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Haixiang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Xuejun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang