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Optical polishing pitches: impact frequency responses and indentation depths
1Department of Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Science, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University City Boulevard, Charlotte, North Carolina 28223, USA. bamullan@uncc.edu
Applied Optics
|January 22, 2010
Summary
Optical polishing pitch dynamic properties were analyzed. Harder pitches exhibit higher natural frequencies and lower damping, but dynamic properties vary significantly between manufacturers even with similar hardness.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Optical Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
Background:
- Optical polishing relies on specialized pitches.
- Understanding pitch dynamic properties is crucial for precision polishing.
- Commercial pitches vary in composition and performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the short-term dynamic properties of various commercial optical polishing pitches.
- To develop a dynamic model for evaluating pitch measurement variations.
- To correlate pitch hardness with dynamic characteristics.
Main Methods:
- Impact frequency response testing was employed.
- A simple dynamic model was utilized for analysis.
- Indent tests measured pitch hardness.
Main Results:
- Harder pitches demonstrated higher natural frequencies.
- Lower damping ratios were observed in harder pitches.
- Correlations between hardness and natural frequency were series-specific (Gugolz, Acculap), not universal across manufacturers.
Conclusions:
- Pitch hardness alone does not predict dynamic behavior across different brands.
- Dynamic properties of optical polishing pitches are influenced by factors beyond simple hardness.
- Manufacturer-specific characteristics significantly impact pitch performance.
