Low Cost Very Large Diamond Turned Metal Mirror

摘要

Lightweight, stiff mirrors can be produced by electroplating a nickel phosphide alloy over a plastic foam mandrel. 300 and 600 mm diameter flat mirrors were made using this process. Integral nickel phosphide tubes were separately formed and inserted into the mandrels before plating. The assembly was then plated and the mandrel was removed by solvent extraction. The mirror substrates were diamond turned and polished. Optical inspection is not yet complete.