Awarded

Feasibility study for the development of an Ion Beam figuring capability for Large Optics

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Feasibility study for the development of an Ion Beam figuring capability for Large Optics’This work is funded by the Welsh Government through the Academic Expertise for Business (A4B), programme.Further information on the project can be obtained by contacting Prof. Alan Shore (k.a.shore@bangor.ac.uk).BackgroundThe Advanced Optics sector is of significant importance to Wales in terms of employment. It is also seen as a sector that can provide Wales with a competitive advantage. Direct engagement within regional anchor companies at the cutting edge of product innovation and R&D has been identified by Welsh government as a key priority. The provision of a comprehensive process and product offering to this sector is therefore vital to keep the Welsh Optics cluster relevant in the market.The global demand for the manufacture of Advanced Optics continues to increase. Applications as diverse as Large ground based Telescopes to advanced wearable displays show the range of products requiring Advanced Optical components. These components range from metre scale optics, to micro-patterned thin films patterned with nanometre geometries.In North Wales a cluster of Research and Manufacturing activities already competes globally for many contracts requiring Advanced Optical component production. Continuous process development, research into new manufacturing techniques and work on new and exotic materials and forms is a pre-requisite for maintaining a relevant offering in this competitive environment.Ion Beam Figuring is one such Advanced manufacturing process that allows exotic materials to be used in the manufacture of Advanced Optics. Increasingly, new optical designs and products which require the use of this advanced technique are being sought by the sector. There is much work to be done in developing Ion Beam Figuring as a production process which can satisfy this incipient demand. Currently there is no facility within the Wales Optics Cluster which offers Ion Beam figuring.A detailed feasibility study is required which will examine the current market demand for Ion Beam Figured Advanced Optics. It is important that the observation of a growing requirement for these components has some market analysis which quantifies the opportunity. The study should provide evidence of the potential benefit to the Welsh Optics Cluster of Ion Beam Figuring as a process offering to the sector.ResponseResponses should be no more than 5 sides of A4 (excluding annexes which should not exceed a further 5 sides of A4), and should provide the information set out in the following paragraphs:•a proposal including:•a restatement of the aims of the work, with specific objectives;•the nature and scope of work you propose to undertake, and of any other information gathering;•the costing methodology to be used and a detailed breakdown of the costs and the pricing structure for the project;•an outline of your capabilities to undertake the work;•Inclusion of successful previous engagement with regional players in the market•a timetable with clear milestones.