Eliminating trial-and-error in glass mould design
Grinding and polishing processes are the conventional routes to achieving precision surfaces on glass optical components. Precision glass moulding has been used for some time as a more efficient alternative but mould development is still time- and cost-intensive. After moulding a piece, scientists determine the shrinkage during cooling and adjust the mould design in an iterative fashion until the appropriate product specifications are met. Researchers have now developed a powerful computational tool to simulate the behaviour of inorganic glasses at 450–950 degrees Celsius and its dependence on mould and moulding parameters. Thanks to EU funding of the project SIMUGLASS(opens in new window) , manufacturers can achieve the required control over the temperature–pressure profile for production of precision glass components for fine optics and photography. Addressing shrinkage size after moulding through finite element simulations, manufacturers can now specify the required mould design without experimentation. Results were widely disseminated at numerous scientific conferences. The conference The International Colloquium on Optics (focusing on strategy, markets, production and products) was an excellent opportunity for showcasing the project. The event also boosted networking with experts in associated fields for business opportunities. The consortium expects its simulation tool to find access to emerging markets for high-precision glass optics such as medical diagnostic technology, fibre optics for communication and lasers. In addition, it could be adapted for use in non-precision applications such as bottle or windshield manufacturing. The European–Indian partnership has established a post-project cooperation scheme to ensure continued optimisation of the tool. Commercialisation will have major benefits for European and Indian manufacturers facing stiff competition from Asia and the United States.
