Manasota Optic's Polishing/Grinding Department can produce "plano" or flat optics as well as spherical components. The sizes of components can range up to 24" in diameter and the optical requirements are typically 1/8 wave or better PV and 20-40 angstroms RMS for surface roughness.

The planetary polisher has a lap surface which accommodates three 26” polishing rings, allowing us to polish three 24” mirrors at one time.  MOI also has tooling capabilities to produce many smaller components within the 26" ring. The flatness of the lap is controlled by a 40” conditioning granite rock, which results in controlled material removal and near identical flatness of the mirrors in the polishing rings.

The single and dual spindle machines give MOI the autonomy to run many different components simultaneously that have different sizes, shapes and or optical requirements.

MOI's Polishing Equipment consists of the following:

• 72" Strasbaugh Planetary Polisher
• 9 Single Spindle Polishing / Lapping Machines
• 1 Dual Spindle Polishing / Lapping Machine

Polishing and Grinding materials consists of Electroless Nickel Plated Substrates, Copper, a variety of Stainless Steels, AlBeMet and Titanium.