Abstract

Electroless nickel is an attractive material for optical components since i) it has a high hardness among the diamond-turnable materials, reducing the incidental damage and easing the task of optical polishing if it is required subsequent to diamond-turning, and ii) it can be deposited on many substrate materials as is frequently practiced in optics fabrication. Diamond machining experience, however, has shown a wide range of surface finish and tool wear, indicating a need for a better understanding of the machining process and the effects of material properties on the surface finish.

© 1985 Optical Society of America