STTR Phase II: Predictive Molding of Precision Glass Optics

小型企业技术转移研究（STTR）第二阶段项目将开发基于物理的玻璃成型过程计算模型，根据模具几何形状、玻璃材料特性和成型参数的知识准确预测光学器件的形状。计算模型将通过系统地表征玻璃在高温下的性能，并将玻璃的粘弹性响应与模具和玻璃的热膨胀和弹性挠曲相结合来开发。该项目还将开发用户界面软件，能够直接根据用户输入的工业标准非球面方程系数建立有限元（FE）模型，并将有限元分析结果转换为非球面系数。在提出的研究中开发的计算工具将消除目前在发现合适的模具几何形状和生产公差光学所需的加工参数之前生产更昂贵的试验模具几何形状的需要。拟议的研究将允许制造与现有产品相比具有优越性能的光电产品。此外，该项目将通过培训佛罗里达大学和克莱姆森大学的研究生，为科学和工程劳动力的发展做出贡献。

The Small Business Technology Transfer Research (STTR) Phase II project will develop physics based computational models of the glass molding process that accurately predict the shape of the optic from knowledge of the mold geometry, the material properties of the glass, and the molding parameters. The computational models will be developed through systematic characterization of the properties of glasses at high temperatures, and incorporation of the viscoelastic response of the glass with thermal expansions and elastic deflections of the mold and glass. This project will also develop user interface software capable of building the finite element (FE) model directly from user input of coefficients of the industry-standard Asphere Equation and translating results of the FE analysis into Asphere coefficients. The computational tools developed in the proposed research will eliminate the current need for production of more expensive trial mold geometries before discovering the proper mold geometry and processing parameters required to produce in-tolerance optics. The proposed research will allow manufacture of opto-electronic products with superior capabilities compared to those available today. In addition, the project will contribute to the development of science and engineering workforce through training of graduate students at the University of Florida and Clemson University.