OPTICAL FLATS

BY
VAMSI KRISHNA
MAJETI

OPTICAL FLATS
Optical flats are cylindrical in form
with the working surfaces flat.
An optical flat may be of any
transparent material usually glass
with two highly polished surfaces.

INSTRUMENT

TYPES OF OPTICAL FLATS

There are two types of optical flats.

Type A
It has only one surface flat.The working
surface of this type of flat is indicated by
an arrow head on the cylindrical surface
pointing towards the working surface.
This type of flat are used for
testing the flatness of precision
measuring surfaces of flats,slips etc.

 Type B
It has both surfaces flat and
parallel to each other.
This type of flat are used for
testing measuring surfaces of
micrometers,measuring anvils.

MAKING OF OPTICAL
FLATS
Optical flats are made of fused quartz(whose
coefficient of linear expansion not more than
0.6*10^(-6) /degree at standard temperature
of 20 centigrade) or borosilicate glass(at S T
of 20 degrees ,C O L E is not more than
3.6*10^(-6) /degree.)
This glass is clear and colourless.
The cylindrical surfaces of the optical flats are
finished by grinding and the working surfaces
are finished by lapping and polishing process.

FLATNESS TEST
The flatness of the working surface of an
optical flat is tested by comparing its
flatness with a master flat of known
flatness.
The testing is usually carried out by
observing the interference fringes using
monochromatic light source.
If the optical flat under test has a perfectly
flat surface then the fringes observed will
be straight line.

PARALLELISM TEST
The parallelism of working surfaces of type B optical
flats can be tested by Fizeau Interferometer method.
In this method light from mercury vapour lamp is
focussed on to an opening in the eyepiece and is
partly reflected by beam splitter .
The reflected light strikes the collimating lens which
collimates it and throws it further on the flat under
test. The flat under the test is placed on the table
provided.
The table is arranged such that beam strikes the
surfaces of the flats perpendicularly.


After reflection from the two surfaces of the
flat under test , the beam retrace its path.
Due to interference of the light reflected at
the two parallel surfaces of the optical flat,
interference fringes are formed which can
be observed from the eyepiece of the autocollimator
These interference fringes helps in
determining the degree of flatness of two
surfaces of the flat.

CARE IN THE USE OF

OPTICAL FLAT
Before using the optical flat , it
should be ensured that both flat and
work piece are clean and free from
dust ,oil, dirt and finger prints.
The flat should only be rested
carefully on the workpiece.