December 17, 2007
Purdue Research Park company receives $5 million production contract to develop component for world's largest telescope
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -
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The component, a polishing machine, will be used to finish the mirrors for the European Southern Observatory's Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT) project. The observatory is a proposed member to operate a new generation of astronomical telescopes, envisioned to dwarf the world's largest telescopes.
The new generation telescope will collect light from distant galaxies using a mirror composed of 906 hexagonal segments, each 1.4 m (4.6 ft) across. The entire mirror will span 42 m (137 feet), greater than the wingspan of a Boeing 707 aircraft.
"This massive telescope will allow the study of planets around other stars and super-massive black holes," said John Kelchner, director of research for Zeeko. "It also can provide important clues to the history of the universe's beginning with the very first galaxies and stars.
"This project will require a revolution in optical fabrication in order to produce mirrors in both the quality and quantity needed."
The Zeeko polishing machine uses a small robotic tool under computer control. This tool can remove material from a surface according to a very precise prescription.
"One innovative aspect of the Zeeko process that is being developed at Zeeko Technologies in West Lafayette is the use of a random tool path," Kelchner said.
Computer-controlled polishing tools usually move across the surface in a raster or spiral motion, creating a periodic surface texture which can cause light to be scattered off the mirrors in one direction. The random tool path will polish the mirror surface without leaving periodic polishing artifacts. This technique was developed at Zeeko Technologies and is patent pending by Zeeko.
Zeeko Ltd, along with partners Brashear, OpTIC Technium, TNO and Qioptiq, was awarded the contract to produce seven prototype mirror segments. This undertaking will require the design and construction of a new type of polishing machine capable of processing these large mirrors.
About Zeeko Technologies
Zeeko Technologies, LLC is a North American spin-off of Zeeko Ltd. (https://www.zeeko.co.uk), which has headquarters in the United Kingdom. The principal aim of the West Lafayette, Ind.-based operation is to introduce, further refine and develop additional applications for a technology that improves the polishing of freeform surfaces, such as optical surfaces. Zeeko's mission is to develop the latest technologies for controlling the form and texture of freeform engineering surfaces, thereby providing a degree of precision never before attainable by automated means.
About Purdue Research Park
Purdue Research Park (https://www.purdueresearchpark.com) encompasses 725 acres in West Lafayette, Ind., and is home to the largest university-affiliated business incubator complex in the nation. Within the park, 140 businesses, of which more than 90 are high-tech, employ more than 2,900 people. The Association of University Research Parks recognized Purdue Research Park for Excellence in Technology Transfer in 2005, and the park received the organization's Research/Science Park Company of the Year Award of Excellence in 2004.
To the Purdue Research Park, https://www.purdueresearchpark.com
IMAGE CAPTION:
Zeeko Technologies LLC, a Purdue Research Park-based company, received a $5 million production contract to develop a component for the world’s largest telescope. The telescope is composed of a number of mirrors spanning 137 feet, greater than the wingspan of a Boeing 707 aircraft, and will dwarf the world’s largest telescopes. Zeeko will develop a polishing machine for the mirrors. (Photo provided by the European Organization for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere)
A publication-quality image is available at https://www.purdue.edu/uns/images/+2007/zeeko-telescope.jpg
Purdue Research Foundation marketing and communication contact: Cynthia Sequin, (765) 494-4192 (office), (765) 413-6031 (mobile), casequin@prf.org