Missing you already
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It was back in 2006 that Machinery highlighted the UK's development of manufacturing technology for the production of optics for the next generation of so-called Extra Large Telescopes, or ELTs (see http://bit.ly/qSyR8p). One of the results, Cranfield University Precision Engineering Centre's BoX grinding machine was exhibited at MACH that same year, although development had started in 2004.
The ground-based European Space Observatory Extra Large Telescope, dubbed E-ELT, has mirror segments measuring 1.5 m, with many 1,000s required for the 40 m diameter, five-mirror instrument, which is hailed as "revolutionary" and will be "the world's biggest eye on the sky".
Key in sensibly realising such a telescope have been efforts to drastically reduce the production time for these large optic segments, hence the development of new manufacturing technology.
Latest news is that the BoX machine, which has reportedly already produced numerous metre size free-form mirrors and optics, including 1.5 m sized mirror segments for the ESO E-ELT, is to be built by Holland's Hembrug (See here). This follows a licence agreement between Cranfield University's Loxham Precision set-up and the Dutch builder of ultra-precision hard turning machines.
The licence agreement will see Hembrug build and bring BoX ultra-precision free-form optics grinding machines to the market under the Hembrug brand, with first machines ready for shipment at the end of 2012.
In our 2006 article, we highlighted that much of BoX was UK-built, but, clearly, it has not been possible, or sensible, to pursue such a course into production.
BoX would today be highlighted as a development that falls within the high value manufacturing sector that the current government is getting behind. It is with some sadness, then, to see the UK unable to realise the local manufacture of such a development, just as the market for ELTs gets into gear.
Apparently, before 2018, almost 1,000 1.5 m mirror segments are required for the ESO E-ELT, while the market for grinding large optics is a niche but growing one, with an annual need of several machines a year, it is claimed.
It's not a complete surprise, as Hembrug has been involved with the development of BoX, but it does highlight an issue when it comes to trying to regenerate UK manufacturing industry - we are already missing some of the bits necessary to fully capitalise on future developments and markets.
First published in Machinery, August 2011
