Water jet milled ribbed silicon carbide mirrors

Abstract

Water jet milled ribbed silicon carbide mirrors and a method of making the mirrors. In a preferred embodiment the component is a light weight silicon carbide mirror fabricated with water jet milling from a solid silicon carbide work piece. A prior art water jet cutting process has typically cuts edges, slots, and holes is utilized in a controlled-depth application where the jet does not pass all the way through the silicon carbide work piece. In preferred embodiments the silicon carbide material is a product of a chemical vapor composite process such as that described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,154,862 and 5,348,765

1 . A method of making a silicon carbide mirror structure, said method comprising the steps of: 
 A) producing a silicon carbide blank having at least one approximately smooth surface defining a front surface with an opposite surface defining a rear surface,    B) milling the rear surface using an abrasive water jet process to create a rib structure supporting the front surface,    C) polishing said approximately smooth front surface to achieve a mirror finish.    
   
   
       2 . The method as in  claim 1  wherein the silicon carbide blank is a silicon carbide composite blank.  
   
   
       3 . The method as in  claim 2  wherein the silicon carbide blank is produced in a process of the type described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,154,862 and 5,348,765.  
   
   
       4 . The method as in  claim 1  wherein abrasive material used in said water jet process is silicon carbide.  
   
   
       5 . A silicon ribbed carbide mirror fabricated using an abrasive water jet method, said method comprising the steps of: 
 A) producing a silicon carbide blank having at least one approximately smooth surface defining a front surface with an opposite surface defining a rear surface,    B) milling the rear surface using an abrasive water jet process to create a rib structure supporting the front surface,    C) polishing said approximately smooth front surface to achieve a mirror finish.    
   
   
       6 . The mirror as in  claim 5  wherein the silicon carbide blank is a silicon carbide composite blank.  
   
   
       7 . The mirror as in  claim 6  wherein the silicon carbide blank is produced in a process of the type described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,154,862 and 5,348,765.  
   
   
       8 . The mirror as in  claim 5  wherein abrasive material used in said water jet process is silicon carbide.