Custom Precision Telescopes
Custom Precision Telescopes: SPDT and Wide FOV Solutions
At WMD, we bring 25 years of expertise in designing and building high-performance, large-aperture optical systems for everything from ground-based observations to airborne and space missions. Our strength lies in our complete control over the entire process—from design to assembly—thanks to our in-house capabilities in single point diamond turning, precision metrology, and meticulous assembly.
Single Point Diamond Turned (SPDT) Telescopes
When it comes to designing telescopes, we’ve got you covered whether you need on-axis, off-axis, or wide field of view (FOV) systems.
Our design process doesn’t stop at just the optics; we also handle the complete system design, including integrating aft optics, baffling elements to control stray light, and custom mounting solutions. We pay close attention to details like athermalization and temperature control to ensure your system performs reliably in various conditions. Plus, we design steering mirror assemblies and specialized housings to enhance functionality and durability.
Examples of our Single Point Diamond Turned Telescopes include HACS, HALO, HSRL2, MARLi, and LiDAR-In-A-Box.
Telescope Manufacturing
We specialize in single point diamond turning for telescopes ranging from 4 inches (10.2cm) to 39 inches (100cm) in diameter. We pride ourselves on achieving surface roughness as smooth as 50 Å RMS on most mirrors, while some geometries and sizes can be diamond turned to 30 Å RMS or lower. Our unique alignment systems and mounting techniques are designed to eliminate stress and ensure optimal performance.
We can control wavefront errors to a degree suitable for high-precision imaging applications, or we can loosen tolerances to accommodate “light bucket” applications. Additionally, we offer post-polishing services to further refine roughness and correct any wavefront errors. After post-polishing, coatings can be applied to achieve extremely smooth surfaces—large primary mirrors can reach a roughness of less than 30 Å RMS, while smaller secondary mirrors can achieve 20 Å RMS or less.
Coatings
We offer a variety of coating options including gold and silver, tailored to your specific requirements. We can apply simple bare metal, protected metal, enhanced multilayer metal coatings, multilayer dielectric reflective and antireflective coatings up to 1 meter diameter.
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Wide Field of View (WFOV) Push-broom Telescopes
Our Wide Field of View (FOV) Telescopes are a testament to our innovation and expertise.
Typically, they feature a push-broom style with three or four off-axis aspheric mirrors and a glass slit, all housed in a custom-designed enclosure with internal baffling. With fields of view up to 50 degrees x 10 to 100 mrad, they’re easy to assemble and can be delivered pre-aligned. Our latest generation Wide FOV Telescopes require no optical alignment and are snap-together, extremely stable telescopes with excellent stray light baffling.
Examples of our Wide Field of View Push-broom telescopes can be seen in our spectrometer products, including EMAS and V-2048.
Traditional Glass/Ceramic Imaging Telescopes
Glass and ceramic imaging telescopes offer superior precision for high-resolution observations.
Imaging telescopes are notable for their ability to maintain precise surface figures and smoothness, crucial for detailed imaging. These telescopes are structured using low-expansion materials such as invar or carbon fiber, ensuring minimal thermal distortion. They often feature motorized focusing mechanisms for accurate adjustments and are designed primarily for forming images rather than merely collecting light. To enhance the field of view and correct optical aberrations, imaging telescopes frequently incorporate correcting optics. These traditional telescopes are ideal for achieving high-quality images with minimal vibration interference.
Examples of our Imaging Telescopes include SAMI, HSRL1, SPARTA ZEUS, ADAM, DAWN Beam Expanders, and Active Beam Expander with Positioning Gimbal.
Assembly
Our team takes pride in hand-building several turn-key systems each year. We have a dedicated group of technicians and engineers who carefully assemble and validate each system before it leaves our facility. This hands-on approach means that when your system arrives, it’s ready for immediate use, saving you time and ensuring smooth implementation.
Metrology
Metrology is key to our process. We use advanced measurement equipment to ensure every optical system meets your exact specifications. By performing in-house measurements, we not only verify performance but also continually refine our processes and designs, striving for the highest quality in every project.
Whether you need one telescope or several, we can design and build exactly what you need.