LT Ultra calculates and produces a wide range of reflective optics for a broad range of applications. Metal optics, for example, are deployed at different wavelengths ranging from ultraviolet to infrared and even microwave.

Metal optics manufactured in copper are the preferred choice for laser resonator applications or bending and focussing mirrors in beam delivery equipment. Because of their thermal conductive properties, these copper mirrors possess incredible dimensional stability, even at the highest of laser powers, particularly when water-cooled. Generally, these optics are optimized using a highly reflective coating to suit the application.

Lightweight scanning mirrors and polygon wheels are manufactured in aluminium. One of our strengths is the manufacture of high-volume polygon wheels using special, fully automated, machinery.

There is almost no limit to the size of these optics. For a number of years, we have been manufacturing complete mirror units for very large astronomical mirror telescopes on our own in-house machinery, such as those for MAGIC. With a mirror area of 240 m², this is the world’s largest telescope for the acquisition of gamma rays. These types of mirrors have typical dimensions in the order of 1000 mm x 1000 mm.

When it comes to surface microstructures, the optical quality achievable has a grating between 5 µm and 150 µm. These customized structures are either milled or turned on our diamond-coated ultra-precision equipment. The physical turning length, diameter and weight limitations of an LT Ultra machine are 2500 mm, 800 mm and 2500 kg respectfully.

Depending on the preferred manufacturing process, substrate material and its weight, geometrical accuracies of up to 80 nm (1 nm = 1 millionth part of one millimetre) and surface finishes up to 2 nm RMS are achievable with our diamond precision machining units.

With over 20 ultra precision machines at our disposal we are able to produce all mirror surface forms, including planar, spherical, toroidal, ellipsoidal, parabolic, hyperbolic and even custom specific freeform contoured surfaces.

Our innovative engineering department will always be able to find a technical solution for you, even in seemingly unsolvable situations.