Paper 14108-17
Paper 14108-17
CSOA0.5: under 500mm optical manufacturing capabilities for advanced astronomical components at the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias
14 April 2026 • 14:00 - 14:20 CEST | Madrid 1/Salon 3 (Niveau/Level 0)
Abstract
The Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias has been working on acquiring, installing, and calibrating several optical manufacturing machines, to become a self-sufficient provider under the name of Advanced Optical Systems Center (CSOA).
Two laboratories are available for this purpose. One is dedicated to small optics with a diameter under 500mm, which is equipped with grinding, polishing, ultra-polishing, and coating machines. The other laboratory for large optics, with a diameter of less than to 1500mm, and it is equipped with polishing and coating machinery.
In this communication, we will focus on the small optics manufacturing laboratory, which contains all the necessary instruments for the complete manufacturing of optical elements, from start to finish. This includes all stages, from cutting the optical element block to ultra-polishing using ion beam figuring. We will introduce each machine employed in optical manufacturing and explain its capabilities. Furthermore, we will also discuss the optical materials processed, the characterisation tests performed, and the measurement methods applied. Finally, we will present our current work and our long-term manufacturing goals for optics with diameters down to 500mm.Presenter
Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (Spain)
Optical Engineer specialized in optical manufacturing and system verification for astronomical instrumentation. Currently at the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, I work on the setup, commissioning, and operation of advanced optical fabrication equipment, including grinding, polishing, and ultra-polishing machines. My role involves process optimization, metrology, tolerance analysis, and technical documentation to ensure high-quality optical components. I also contributed to the GRANCAIN infrared camera project, supporting its optical design and integration. Skilled in Zemax OpticStudio, MATLAB, and surface measurement tools. I hold a Master’s in Optical and Imaging Technologies from Universidad Complutense de Madrid.