Development of beryllium mirror turning technology

Conference · Mon Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:5825503

Arnold, J B

Because of the unique properties of beryllium (Be) and the advantages of single point turning, a development program has been instituted to single point turn beryllium as a means to produce optics. Initial effort to diamond turn beryllium resulted in less than desirable results and development efforts were directed at finding a more suitable tool material. Both single and polycrystalline tool materials were evaluated and cubic boron nitride (CBN) was found to produce the better results. Tool wear has been the primary limitation in precision machining beryllium and advances have allowed a two order-of-magnitude reduction in this problem. After considerable efforts, results with CBN appear to be approaching a limit, and diamond, as tool material, was re-evaluated with promising results. A development program is now under way to determine if diamond may be used to machine larger and more complex beryllium parts.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OS21400
• OSTI ID: 5825503
• Report Number(s): Y/DX-1186; CONF-910450--16; ON: DE92008028
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360101 -- Metals & Alloys-- Preparation & Fabrication
45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
450500* -- Military Technology
Weaponry
& National Defense-- Strategic Defense Initiative-- (1990-)
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
BERYLLIUM
BORON COMPOUNDS
BORON NITRIDES
CARBON
DIAMONDS
ELEMENTAL MINERALS
ELEMENTS
MACHINING
METALS
MINERALS
MIRRORS
NITRIDES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NONMETALS
PNICTIDES
SURFACE FINISHING
TOOLS
WEAR