Skip to Content

Precision Optics

Planar, aspheric optics, prisms, opto-mechanical components

We manufacture precision optical components for applications in aerospace and defense, industry, medical systems, and scientific research.

Our knowledge of optical and mechanical properties of materials, combined with the ability to handle all aspects of component manufacture, ensures the highest quality products with precise optical finishes and high-quality AR, HR, broadband, and narrowband in-house coatings.

The precision optics products for laser cavity and beam conditioning include active and passive components as well as nonlinear crystals. Our custom lenses and housed subassemblies find application in transmission and imaging.

Much of our business involves creating high-quality, custom optics for volume OEM applications and unique optics for research. Our ring laser gyro mirrors are used by every commercial airline in the world.

From components to modules, the deep vertical integration of our supply chain allows us to maintain control over design, materials, and processes while ensuring the quality and security of supply.

We support our customers through:

  • Compliance with international export regulations
  • Quality accreditations
  • Commitment to continuous improvement
  • Maximum security of supply
  • Adherence to demanding technical specifications
  • Low-cost sourcing for uncontrolled components

Our specialist tools for making precision optics

Our dedicated optical and mechanical engineers use powerful design tools to create custom individual precision optic components. Some of the tools that we use are:

  • Our Hy-Per Bond™ technique: an adhesive-free bonding process that creates strong, environmentally stable joints with zero outgassing.
  • Single-point diamond turning for spherical, aspheric, and single point lenses
  • Magneto-rheological finishing (MRF®) linked to sub-aperture stitching (SSI) interferometry
  • Robust optical coatings from deep UV, through visible and IR, to LWIR
  • Superpolishing
  • Advanced optical metrology

Optical crystal growth

Beginning with the raw chemicals we grow, orient, fabricate, finish, coat, and mount: ß-barium borate (BBO), cadmium sulfide (CdS), cadmium selenide (CdSe), potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP), potassium dideuterium phosphate (KD*P), lithium niobate (LiNbO₃), and tellurium dioxide (TeO₂).

Materials

Our expertise in optical materials begins with the selection of the correct material to meet the requirements of customers. We grow much of our own crystalline material and employ rigorous sourcing procedures for those crystals externally procured. We routinely work with a wide variety of optical glass types.

The extent of vertical integration throughout our manufacturing processes allows us to provide dependable design advice and improves the quality of our finished products through unified standards and reduced component handling between manufacturing steps.

Design and assembly

The engineering team at G&H has strong capabilities across a breadth of key disciplines resulting in a multi-disciplinary team capable of designing optical systems and subsystems operational across the full range of military equipment environments. We work to the most demanding level of accuracy and deliver products capable of working in the harshest environments.

Products

Technologies