UCO/Lick Optical
Fabrication Lab


This area is where optical fabrication and testing takes place. It is currently being run by our World-Class Optician, Dave Hilyard. Dave is ably assisted by Brian Dupraw.

In February of 2006, the Optics and Instrument Shops re-aluminized the 120" mirror of the Shane Telescope at Lick Observatory. Click here for the project page.



Brian Dupraw measures the flatness of a 1.1 meter diameter Zerodur mirror blank, a prototype Thirty-Meter Telescope primary segment.



Close-up of a spherometer measuring the flatness of a Zerodur blank to .001mm resolution.


Brian performing cosmetic defect inspection of a finished Thity-Meter Telescope primary mirror segment prototype.



Some of the raw glass lens blanks, along with tooling, that will become lenses for the Automated Planet Finder (APF) Spectrograph Camera.



Dave inspects three of the finished lenses that are part of the APF Spectrograph Camera. The smallest, held by fingers, is a 12mm diameter
lens made of calcium flouride.



Some of the Zerodur/Fused Silica composite lenses fabricated by the Optical Lab and used for the UC Santa Cruz Foundation Medal.

Award to be presented to retiring UCSC Astronomy Professor John Faulkner, June 2005 (designed and created by Dave Hilyard and
Dick Kanto in the Instrument Shop) .


Brian grinding a 1.1 meter Zerodur mirror segment prototype for the Thirty-Meter Telescope.


Close-up of a grinder working a 1.1 meter diameter mirror segment.


Dave measures the radius of curvature and surface irregularity of an APF Spectrograph Camera lens with a Zygo interferometer.


Close-up of a 24" diameter pitch lap used to polish and figure a large mirror.


Brian Dupraw and Dave Hilyard work on a Thirty-Meter Telescope prototype primary mirror segment.