Title: Using design of experiments to improve precision glass moulding

Authors: Benn Gleason; Peter Wachtel; J. David Musgraves; Kathleen Richardson

Addresses: Materials Science and Engineering, COMSET, Clemson University, 91 Technology Dr., Anderson, SC 29631, USA ' Materials Science and Engineering, COMSET, Clemson University, 91 Technology Dr., Anderson, SC 29631, USA ' Materials Science and Engineering, COMSET, Clemson University, 91 Technology Dr., Anderson, SC 29631, USA ' CREOL, College of Optics and Photonics University of Central Florida, 4000 Central FL Blvd., Building 53, Orlando, FL 32816-2700, USA

Abstract: A design of experiments (DOE) approach was used to characterise the effect of process parameters, including heating and cooling rates, soaking times, moulding viscosities, and forces applied during the moulding and cooling stages on the repeatability of the final thickness of moulded N-BK7 and LBAL35 glasses using a precision glass moulding (PGM) machine. Analysis of the DOE showed that process parameters that lengthen the overall time of the moulding process tend toward more repeatable final thicknesses. Using the ideal parameters found by the DOE, the error in the final thickness was held within ±0.05 mm.

Keywords: precision glass moulding; PGM; design of experiments; DOE; optical fabrication; process parameters; heating rate; cooling rate; soaking times; moulding viscosity; force; repeatability; final thickness.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEDPO.2013.055742

International Journal of Experimental Design and Process Optimisation, 2013 Vol.3 No.3, pp.263 - 275

Received: 09 Nov 2012
Accepted: 11 Feb 2013
Published online: 02 Jul 2014 *

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