Design, additive manufacturing, processing, and characterization of metal mirror made of aluminum silicon alloy for space applications

Abstract

Metal mirrors are used for spaceborne optical systems, such as telescopes and spectrometers. In addition to the optical performance, the mechanical needs and the mass restrictions are important aspects during the design and manufacturing process. Using the additive manufacturing process, optimized internal lightweight structures are realized to reduce the weight of the system while keeping the mechanical stability. A mass reduction of ≈60.5  %   is achieved. Using the aluminum silicon alloy AlSi40, the thermal mismatch of the mirror base body to a necessary electroless nickel-polishing layer is minimized. Based on an exemplary mirror design, the optimization of the interior lightweight structure is described, followed by the manufacturing process from additive manufacturing to diamond turning, plating, and polishing. Finally, the results of surface metrology and light scattering measurements are presented. A final form deviation below 80 nm p  .    −  v  .   and a roughness of ∼1  nm rms could be demonstrated.