MRF Applications

Case Study Summary Lightweighted silicon carbide mirrors are commonly used in space and large-aperture optical systems but are prone to print-through and quilting errors when polished using conventional techniques. This case study demonstrates how Magnetorheological Finishing (MRF) effectively corrects these errors without inducing additional deformation. A 100 mm diameter silicon carbide mirror was processed on

Case Study Summary QED Technologies combined Subaperture Stitching Interferometry (SSI) with Magnetorheological Finishing (MRF) to manufacture a fused silica optical flat with peak-to-valley flatness of λ/75. High-resolution stitched metrology from the ASI platform was used to accurately characterize surface irregularity and remove reference wave error, providing precise input data for the MRF correction process. Using

Case Study Summary This case study illustrates how Magnetorheological Finishing (MRF) can be used not only for correction but also for inducing aspheric form. A 170 mm diameter BK7 optic with an initial best-fit spherical surface was processed to introduce approximately 16 µm of aspheric departure using a Q-forge platform. A large 150 mm polishing

Case Study Summary QED Technologies applied Magnetorheological Finishing (MRF) to smooth mid-spatial-frequency errors, reduce micro-roughness, and correct figure on a tungsten carbide optical mold. The mold featured a steep concave spherical surface with a 55 mm radius and an 18 mm aperture, presenting a challenging geometry for conventional polishing methods. Using a Q-flex 100 system

Case Study Summary This case study demonstrates the use of Magnetorheological Finishing (MRF) to correct both large convex and deep concave spherical optics to ultra-high precision. Using QED Technologies’ Q-forge platform in rotational mode, sphere correction was performed on 150 mm diameter optics manufactured from soft optical glasses including N-LAF2 and S-FSL5Y. For the convex

Case Study Summary QED Technologies developed an extended high numerical aperture (NA) rotational polishing mode for Magnetorheological Finishing (MRF) to enable deterministic finishing of steep concave and convex optical surfaces, including full hemispheres. This enhanced capability expands the polishing envelope of the Q-flex platform by utilizing around-the-wheel polishing to minimize B-axis travel and avoid mechanical

Case Study Summary This case study explores how QED Technologies enhanced MRF to reliably achieve ultra-low surface roughness for high-performance optics. Targeting applications like EUV lithography, high-power laser optics, and X-ray mirrors, the team developed and tested new MR fluids including C30. Results showed a significant reduction in surface roughness, achieving RMS values below 1.0

Case Study Summary This case study highlights how QED Technologies expanded the capabilities of Magnetorheological Finishing (MRF®) using a smaller, 10 mm wheel to polish optics with short-radius concave surfaces and to correct mid-spatial frequency (MSF) errors. The study demonstrated successful polishing of a 7.8 mm radius optic on the Q-flex 100 platform with 83%

Case Study Summary This case study highlights how QED Technologies improved Magnetorheological Finishing (MRF) to deliver deterministic, ultra-low surface roughness polishing—critical for applications like EUV lithography, X-ray mirrors, and high-power laser optics. While conventional methods can struggle to achieve <2 Å surfaces, MRF with the newly developed C30 fluid achieved RMS roughness as low as

Case Study Summary This case study demonstrates how QED Technologies expanded the capabilities of Magnetorheological Finishing (MRF) to address two specific challenges in advanced optical manufacturing: polishing short radius concave surfaces and correcting mid-spatial frequency (MSF) errors. Using a 10 mm MRF wheel on a Q-flex 100 platform, QED successfully polished optics with a radius