Custom Metrology

Description:
Performing real time optical thickness measurements of a glass dome with our Quad-Probe. Output yields a 3D topographic map of both inner and outer optical surfaces to sub-micron resolution and allows us to produce transmitted wavefront maps of our scanned optics.

Challenges:
Zygo interferometers and other metrology systems are limited in the shapes of objects that can be measured.

Solutions:
A five axis system which tracks a sensor head around the object can achieve complex trajectories and ultimately map free-form optics.

Clean Room Facilities

Description:
Our primary assembly & test laboratory is located in the Venture Creations Facility. The 495 square foot space includes a 107 square foot Class 100 clean room where precision optical components are inspected & assembled.

LED Illumination System, Design to Production

Description:
UV Illumination Dome

Challenges:
Problems achieving even illumination across the object plane caused this project to be shelved.

Solutions:
A novel optical redesign coupled with the selection of cost effective components breathed life back into this currently active project.

Control Rack

Description:
Control Hardware for our Quad Probe Metrology System

Challenges:
Control hardware & software to support our projects was limited to basic off-the-shelf solutions.

Solutions:
A contingency of ASE employees acquired training and honed those skills developing a customized five axis motion control system. ASE is capable of developing a complete dynamic opto-mechanical system.

Lab Space

Description:
Our 528 square foot laboratory located within the Lennox Tech Enterprise Center facility is devoted for working on our larger projects.

Lens Systems

Description:
Aerial Surveillance Lenses

Challenges:
Maintaining focus and elimination of condensation over a wide temperature & humidity range.

Solutions:
ASE Optics designed an interface to counter the thermal effects experienced during each mission. Nitrogen purging each lens system eliminates internal condensation on the lenses down to a dew point of < -22F (-30C)

Nitrogen Purge Enclosure

Description:
Our “Dry Box” has an integrated 3-stage air dryer & nitrogen delivery system that allows us to remove moisture from the air and then flood the enclosure with nitrogen. The assemblies are allowed to “soak” and are then sealed yielding a moisture free environment for the internal components.

Scanner Test Bed

Description:
Five axis scanning metrology system used to develop next generation measurement technologies for measuring non-standard shapes and optics consisting of multiple material layers.

Challenges:
Zygo interferometers and other metrology systems are limited in the shapes that objects can be measured. Additionally most metrology methods cannot return information about layer composition between the front and back surfaces of the test optic.

Solutions:
ASE Optics drew upon the diverse strengths of its staff to integrate Lumetrics Optigauge technology with a dynamic motion control system that has the capacity to handle difficult to measure optics.

Flatbed Scanner

Description:
This 2-D scanning system was designed to measure thin optical materials by providing optical thickness and surface geometry information.

Challenges:
The optical materials needed to lie flat to within a couple of microns for surface measurements and needed to be lifted off the surface for optical thickness measurements.

Solutions:
A granite substrate was used to provide a reference flatness for the optical materials and a mechanical elevator was devised to carefully lift the optic as well as provide a mechanism for transporting the optic into and out of the scanning system.