https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/202430903018
Polishing performance of 3D-printed multi-material photopolymer tools on glass
1 Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences, Werdenbergstraße 4, 9471 Buchs, Switzerland
2 Ernst-Abbe University of Applied Sciences Jena, Carl-Zeiss-Promenade 2, 07745 Jena, Germany
3 Satisloh GmbH, Wilhelm-Loh-Straße 2-4, 35578 Wetzlar, Germany
* Corresponding author: kerstin.kern@ost.ch
Published online: 31 October 2024
Due to the increasing demands and complexity of optical glass components to be processed in the future, advanced technologies and precision machining methods will be required in order to produce high-quality optics economically. The polyjet process enables the production of 3D printed gradient index (GRIN) polishing tools with hardness gradients by combining different polymer materials for e.g. synchrospeed polishing. In terms of their geometric design, these tools are significantly more flexible than conventional ones, where the polishing cloth must be glued to metal tool holders. The composition of the polishing pad material directly influences the process efficiency and quality at which the glass is polished. In a laboratory test the influence of the mechanical properties of the multi-material pads on process efficiency, i.e. their long-term stability and the polishing rate of the glass workpiece is demonstrated.
© The Authors, published by EDP Sciences, 2024
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
