METHOD FOR PRODUCING A CYLINDRICAL COMPONENT COMPRISED OF SILICA GLASS AND A DEVICE SUITED THEREFOR

摘要

According to a prior art method for producing a cylindrical component comprised of silica glass, a cylinder comprised of a softened silica glass mass is drawn in a predetermined drawing direction along a drawing axis by means of a drawing device which acts upon said cylinder. The aim of the invention is to provide a method which prevents, to the greatest possible extent, warping of the drawn cylinder and other deviations from the ideal cylinder dimensions and to prevent, to the greatest possible extent, the outer surface of the drawn cylinder from being touched. To these ends, the invention provides that the drawing device comprises a plurality of guide elements which are arranged one behind the other along the drawing axis, and which can be displaced independently of one another in a drawing direction and in a direction opposite thereto. At least two of said guide elements which maintain an engaging distance from one another are simultaneously displaced, in a frictionally engaged manner, on the cylinder in a drawing direction and with an identical drawing speed. A device suited for carrying out the inventive method comprises a feed device, a heating zone and a drawing device by means of which a cylinder is drawn along a drawing axis and in a predetermined drawing direction with a controlled drawing speed. The drawing device comprises a number of drawing elements which are arranged one behind the other along the drawing axis and which can be displaced independently of one another in a drawing direction and in a direction opposite thereto.