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Inrad Optics offers a wide range of in-house coating and plating options, including in-house electrolytic gold plating and evaporative gold coatings. Both of these surface enhancement technologies are commonly used for military and industrial grade applications requiring reflectivity in the near through far IR range.
The charts below offer a side-by-side comparison of electrolytic gold plating versus evaporative gold coating for different IR wavelength bands. Electrolytic gold plating represents a lower-cost option but trades off slight reflectivity performance.
200 nm – 700 nm
800 nm – 2000 nm
2 µm – 3.5 µm
3.5 µm – 15 µm
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To deliver zero-defect product, Inrad Optics operates under a comprehensive quality system that includes:
State-of-the-art Metrology. We employ a wide variety of metrology techniques to ensure that all optical properties and dimensions are within specification.
Strict Adherence to Technical Requirements. All customer specifications are carefully analyzed and clarified prior to commencement of production. Most of our production additionally complies with latest-revision DOD and ASTM specifications.
Tracking and Traceability. Our MRP system allows us to electronically track and document every product on its journey through the manufacturing life cycle–from initial order and design review to manufacturing, quality assurance and shipping. The system offers shop-floor access to detailed customer specifications along with relevant DOD and ASTM requirements.
| Metrology Capabilities | ||
|---|---|---|
| Metrology Instruments | Parameter(s) | Measurement Sensitivity |
| Zygo Digital Interferometers up to 18" | Surface Figure | 0.005 waves |
| TWE & RWE | ||
| Parallelism | 1 arcsec | |
| Wyko & Chapman Optical Surface Profilers | Surface Roughness | 1 Å |
| Hitachi and Perkin Elmer Spectrophotometers & FTIR | Spectral Characteristics | ± 0.05 %T |
| ± 0.01 %R | ||
| Zeiss CMM | Mechanical Dimensions | 1 µm |
| Trioptics Prism Master | Angular Accuracy | 2 arcsec |
| Nikon Autocollimators | 0.5 arcsec | |
| Angle Gauges & Indexers | 0.1 arcsec | |
| X-ray Diffractometer | Crystalline Orientation | Rough: ± 5 arcmin |
| Fine: ± 1 arcsec | ||
| High Intensity Fiber Light | Surface Quality (S-D) | per MIL-PRF-13830 & ISO 10110 |
| Tenney Micro-Temm II, BMA | Environmental Durability | Temperature, Humidity, Salt Fog per MIL-C-48497, MIL-C-675, MIL-F-48416 |
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Certifications and Compliance
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Nearly all metal and crystal optics need to be incorporated into a higher-level assembly to deliver the performance you require. Inrad Optics specializes in opto-mechanical and electro-optical assemblies and subsystems that achieve the tightest alignment, dimensional tolerance and performance specifications.
Assembly Expertise
Our in-house optical assembly capabilities and expertise includes:
- Design for manufacturing and assembly
- Optical interface optimization
- 3D modeling with Solidworks
- Fixture design and development
- Electronics integration
- CNC machining of mating components
- Optical bonding and contacting
- Laser alignment capabilities
- Functional testing
Opto-Mechanical Assemblies
We've incorporated a wide range of crystal and metal optics into opto-mechanical assemblies. Given our longstanding experience in the defense industry, our opto-mechanical assemblies meet demanding alignment and dimensional tolerance requirements and perform in challenging environmental conditions. Among the assemblies we've delivered are:
- Multi-element beam splitters
- Metal mirror assemblies with integrated journals or bearings
- Mounted crystals for positioning
- Laser optic assemblies
- Mounted tranmission and reference flats
- Reflective telescope assemblies
Electro-Optic Assemblies
Inrad Optics is a leading supplier of electro-optic assemblies and systems based on non-linear optics and motion control components.
- Conductive window assemblies
Optical Design Optimization
Building on our custom manufacturing expertise, we can help you optimize optical and opto-mechanical designs for cost reduction, ease of assembly and superior system performance. Our engineering and operations teams have a deep knowledge of material selection, substrate fabrication techniques, and optical component processing. Our design optimization services include:
- Material Selection. We can help you select the most appropriate base material for your application depending on the performance and assembly requirements.
- Surface Treatment Guidance. We routinely help our customers pick the best plating process, thin-film coating or other surface treatment. Selecting the right coating for finished optics is a complex process that needs to account for wavelength operating ranges, laser damage thresholds, and environmental conditions.
- Geometry Refinement. We help define part geometries that can minimize weight and assembly distortion of the optical component when mounted into its structure. Geometry refinement can also help reduce the machining time and tooling required to finish the optical blank.
- Packaging Design. We can help design finished component packaging for cost-effective protection of optics during transport. Packaging options range from one-off specialty cases to mass packaging with reusable materials.
- Testing. We offer testing services, including accelerated aging, to support design development and predict product lifecycles.