Proceedings of the
9th International Conference of Nanomanufacturing (nanoMan2024)
December 1 – 4, 2024, Singapore
A Review of Recent Advancements in the Fabrication of Astronomical Telescopes
School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
ABSTRACT
Astronomical telescopes have significantly advanced modern deep space exploration thanks to their superior optical characteristics, such as high reflection and low aberration. However, the growing demands for high-efficiency, high-precision fabrication of large-aperture astronomical telescopes present significant challenges to traditional manufacturing techniques. A series of studies have been conducted and reported to address these challenges over the last few decades. Thus, this article comprehensively reviews the fabrication of astronomical telescopes, focusing on four key aspects: materials, diamond turning, grinding and polishing, and coating. Through a detailed overview of the manufacturing processes for astronomical telescopes, this review seeks to provide a systemic solution for the high-precision and high-efficiency manufacture of mirrors to meet specific requirements. Furthermore, the remaining challenges and potential future developments in this field are summarized and discussed.
Keywords: Astronomical telescopes, Manufacturing, Material, Diamond turning, Grinding, Polishing.
