One of the services we have been presented with as the ESA Technology Broker UK is a space mirror manufacturing service.
Based in Cranfield, Bedfordshire, UK, Loxham Precision can provide ultra-precision manufacturing services and design support for the space sector. Operating under an ISO 9001 approved quality management system, they have experience of producing mirrors and metrology technologies for many telescope projects, as well as capabilities in mirror fixture design. This is all made possible through the use of the UK’s largest diamond turning machine, which has a 1.5m diameter and 600mm height capacity, and is able to handle work pieces up to ~500kg.
By combining high-accuracy diamond turning with advanced metrology techniques, Loxham are able to achieve superior optical performance for large-scale optical components, particularly space mirrors.
The optical integrity of the mirrors is maintained through the use of precision fixturing techniques that minimise mirror distortion during manufacturing, aided by real-time monitoring of surface quality and dimensional accuracy, reducing errors and material waste.
Find Out More
You can find out more about Loxham’s very large diamond turning for optical mirrors and precision manufacturing, here.
If you would like to explore this technology further for potential applications, please get in touch with us by emailing contactus@esa-technology-broker.co.uk.