Fabrication of aspherics using a mathematical model for material removal.

A mathematica model has been developed that predicts the aspheric surface that a typical optical surfacing machine will produce. The model, which combines two basic assumptions concerning material wear with the kinematics of the machine, has been verified experimentally for the grinding process. In regions of the surface where the tool extends beyond the edge of the workpiece, pressure becomes nonuniform, and the model must be altered. The established model has been used to synthesize those machine strokes required to produce a desired aspheric surface.