Ultra-precision optics

Manufacturing of
complex mirror optics

Ultra-precision optics – we manufacture optical components primarily from metals such as aluminium or copper, with integrated, high-precision fastening solutions that are weight-reduced and coolable. Flat optics, parabolic mirrors, free-form surfaces, polygon mirrors – everything according to customer requirements, for all kinds of applications and industries.

Target group

- Measuring instruments and spectroscopy
- High performance laser
- Semiconductor industry
- Medical technology
- Aerospace

Experience / Expertise

Optical mirrors have been made from metals since the company was founded: The technology of diamond turning and milling made it possible to manufacture aspherical focusing mirrors, initially for CO2 laser systems for cutting and welding. With increasingly better machine technology “made by Kugler”, the areas of application of these metal optics have also been expanded to include areas of application with shorter wavelengths up to UV light. Today, Kugler mainly develops and processes optics for the visible range and for the near infrared – made of aluminium, copper, but also PMMA or even steel.

Mirrors for laser hardening

Plane mirrors, focusing mirrors, collimators, beam-shaping mirrors. For fibre lasers, diode lasers, CO2 lasers. The “Kugler Integrator Mirror KIS” is an early Kugler invention that allows a high-performance laser focus line to be homogenised in a simple manner, suitable for line-by-line processing of surfaces, for example for hardening, paint stripping or for forming. Since very high laser powers are often used here, these copper mirrors have direct water cooling and can therefore also be used in systems from 1 kW to 100 kW. A typical application of the “KIS” – mirror is the low-distortion laser hardening of forming tools, e.g. in vehicle body construction. Here our customers benefit from the easy handling and the rapid availability of the individually adaptable mirror optics.

Scanning mirrors for 3D measurements

Polygon mirror wheels made of aluminium, lightweight mirrors, tilted mirrors – whenever a mirror has to be moved quickly, lightweight aluminium optics with integrated bearing seats, motor shafts or corresponding precision brackets are required, which Kugler also produces in large series. The application range of the mirror is adapted to the required wavelength with different optical coatings. Tilted mirrors mounted on rotating axes, which are used in 3D measuring devices for indoor and outdoor areas (construction sites, land surveying), are currently widely used. By using mirrors with an innovative aspherical shape manufactured by Kugler, our customers improve the performance and range of their scanners.

Scanning mirrors for 3D measurements

Aluminium optics for satellite system

Kugler can also produce small series of highly complex aluminium mirrors economically. It is precisely because of the availability of both optical and high-precision mechanical measuring methods that we can manufacture mirrors from metals that demonstrate performance comparable to earlier glass-ceramic mirrors. For satellites and research applications, increasingly cost-effective solutions are being used, especially with regard to small and micro satellites. Kugler has many years of expertise in this area, which is currently used in the production of optics for a 3D earth exploration satellite system.