CNC Polishing in Precision Optics Manufacturing

Overview
Curriculum
Instructor

This course provides a structured foundation in high-speed optical polishing. This course builds the skills required to understand and control every element of the CNC polishing process – from pad and tool selection to slurry chemistry, metrology interpretation, and form correction. Participants will develop diagnostic intuition, improve cosmetic outcomes, and maintain consistent, data-driven production control.

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

Understand the principles of CNC optical polishing and material removal mechanisms
Identify tool, pad, and slurry parameters affecting form, roughness, and cosmetics
Interpret Zernike terms and wave maps for process diagnostics
Apply corrective actions to manage form error and surface finish
Integrate metrology and process feedback for continuous improvement

This course is designed for technicians, engineers, and supervisors working in optical fabrication or quality roles or similar precision manufacturing environments. Prior knowledge of basic optics or polishing is helpful but not required.

Curriculum

1 Section
10 Lessons
10 Weeks

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Curriculum
This course is designed for technicians, engineers, and supervisors working in optical fabrication or quality roles or similar precision manufacturing environments. Prior knowledge of basic optics or polishing is helpful but not required.
10

Mike Pomerantz

Mike Pomerantz joins the AmeriCOM team as Director of Engineering and Manufacturing at our Fabrication Laboratory, or COM-Lab. Mike will lead the team that works with clients to help develop manufacturing solutions for industry and academic research using a wide variety of manufacturing and metrology tools. Mike has 20 years of experience at Optimax Systems, Inc., where he held a variety of manufacturing and metrology roles as well as providing project planning, process development, and team leadership. He also spent 10 years in academia, as both researcher and educator, at the University of Rochester, where he worked with graduate and undergraduate students at the Institute of Optics in the Center for Freeform Optics and Mechanical Engineering departments. Mike also serves as faculty at Monroe Community College, managing the manufacturing and metrology labs for the Optical Systems Technology program. Born and raised in the Rochester area, Mike has a background in Mechanical Engineering. He is passionate about manufacturing and developing solutions that will advance manufacturing and metrology for the optics industry into the future.

CNC Polishing in Precision Optics Manufacturing

Curriculum

Mike Pomerantz

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