ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the tool motion paths often used in the diamond turn machining (DTM) process to generate the various optical surfaces. The face-turning process is the often-used process in DTM and the tool motion path can be visualised as an Archimedes spiral motion, leading to typically axially symmetric features. By using special synchronising of axes movement, it is possible to generate axially non-symmetric features (both large gradual-slope and small micro steep-slope types) with the slow tool servo (STS) and fast tool servo (FTS) systems. The chapter shows that the tool motion paths used in DTM naturally result in deterministic surfaces with mid-spatial frequency components in the surfaces. FTS systems can be used innovatively to try to minimise such errors. However, often subsequent polishing processing is required, at least for visual optics components. All mechanical machining, grinding and polishing processes, whether using single point cutting tools or abrasives, can be commonly understood as removing material by scratching action.
