Optical components, electronics development, interferometer accessories and vacuum coating for telescope astronomy.
ASTRO ELECTRONIC Dipl.-Ing. Michael Koch
Herzberg am Harz, DE · Company premises Raabestr. 43, 37412New on Amplifa
About Astro Electronic
Astro Electronic is a sole proprietorship of Dipl.-Ing. Michael Koch based in Herzberg am Harz (Raabestr. 43, 37412). The offering covers optical manufacturing and electronics: repair as well as purchase and sale of used interferometers, new and used optics for interferometers, optic holders, linear guides, lenses, mirrors and objectives as well as telescope controls (FS2), motor kits for mounts and atmospheric dispersion correctors. In addition, electronics developments from design through to production-ready products, PCB layout (single-/double-sided, multilayer, SMD, EMC optimization), EMC consulting with over 20 years of industry experience and preliminary EMC testing are offered. In the optical field, glass blanks (including Zerodur) can be machined on a self-built mirror grinding machine with a 300 mm diamond wheel; with a self-built vacuum coating system (chamber inner diameter 40 cm), telescope mirrors are aluminized, optionally with an SiO protective layer. Custom wooden tripods and intrusion alarm systems are also part of the portfolio.
- Site
- Herzberg
- Processes
- Mirror grinding machine (optical grinding/milling of glass blanks, edging, milling of radius, Vacuum coating (aluminum coating of telescope mirrors, glow discharge cleaning, SiO protective layer, Fluid-jet polishing project, Optics for interferometers (manufacturing of new optics), Manufacturing of custom wooden tripods according to customer specifications, PCB layout (single-sided, double-sided, multilayer, SMD, optimization for EMC, board size or, Electronics development of all kinds from design to production-ready product, Planning and implementation of custom intrusion alarm systems
- Materials
- Zerodur, Glass, Aluminum, Stainless steel, Copper, Tungsten wire, Wood, Silicon dioxide (SiO protective layer)
- Certificates
- Preliminary EMC tests, Reflectance measurement (laser/detector), Coating thickness measurement, ISO 9001
- Industries
- Amateur and telescope astronomy, Optics/metrology (interferometry), Electronics
- 01
Consulting / EMC consulting
- 02
Electronics development & PCB layout
- 03
Optical grinding/milling of glass
- 04
Vacuum coating (aluminum, optional SiO)
- 05
Assembly / controls (FS2, motor kits, correctors, tripods)
Materials & Processes
Zerodur
Glass material for mirror blanks, which is edged and milled on the self-built mirror grinding machine.
Optical glass
Base material for mirrors, lenses and optics for interferometers.
Aluminum
Coating material for highly reflective coatings of telescope mirrors.
Silicon dioxide (SiO)
Optional protective layer that can be applied over the aluminum coating.
Stainless steel
Material of the vessel of the self-built vacuum coating system.
Copper
Electrical feedthroughs and holder of the evaporator in the coating system.
Tungsten wire
Evaporator material, heated in the vacuum chamber at approx. 7V/42A.
Wood
Material for custom-made, very stable wooden tripods.
Locations
Herzberg am Harz
DECompany premises, manufacturing and development
- Part weight / size
- Glass blanks up to 300 mm machining diameter; coating
- Lot size
- Single pieces, custom orders
- Materials
- Zerodur, optical glass, aluminum, stainless steel, copper, tungsten wire, wood
- Self-built mirror grinding machine (300 mm diamond wheel, milling motor in 6 axes, built ca. 1995)
- Self-built vacuum coating system (stainless steel vessel 40 cm inner diameter, turbomolecular pump, rotary vane pump)
- Reflectance measurement with diode laser and detector
- Coating thickness measuring device
- Glow discharge cleaning device
- Power supply 0-20V/0-250A for the evaporator
- Oscilloscope
- High-vacuum and rough vacuum measuring devices
- Electronic control for three DC motors with digital speed controllers
Components & Products
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mirror grinding machine (optical grinding/milling of glass blanks, edging, milling of radiusMachining | Errors smaller than 0.5 mm after milling, remainder by hand | Glass blank with 300mm diamond wheel | – | 1 piece | Zerodur, Glass |
| Vacuum coating (aluminum coating of telescope mirrors, glow discharge cleaning, SiO protective layerSurface | – | Inner diameter 40cm (chamber) | – | 1 piece | Glass, Telescope mirrors, Tungsten wire, Aluminum |
| Fluid-jet polishing projectSurface | – | – | – | – | Mirrors, Glass |
| Optics for interferometers (manufacturing of new optics)Surface | – | – | – | – | Optical glass |
| Manufacturing of custom wooden tripods according to customer specificationsAssembly | – | – | – | – | Wood |
| PCB layout (single-sided, double-sided, multilayer, SMD, optimization for EMC, board size orEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Electronics development of all kinds from design to production-ready productEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Planning and implementation of custom intrusion alarm systemsEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| EMC consulting and performance of preliminary EMC testsTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| Repair of interferometers (purchase and sale of used interferometers)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Manufacturing of quartz oscillators with any frequency 1MHz - 125MHzEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Manufacturing of telescope controls (FS2) and motor kits for mountsAssembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Manufacturing of correctors for atmospheric dispersion (type 3, modular design)Assembly | – | – | – | – | Optical glass |
| Angle encoders (offering new and used)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
2 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mirror grinding machine (self-built) | Astro Electronic | 1 | 300mm diamond wheel, turntable, milling motor in 6 axes, tilt ±10 degrees | ca. 1995 | Herzberg am Harz |
| Vacuum coating system (self-built) | Astro Electronic | 1 | Stainless steel vessel with 40cm inner diameter, turbomolecular pump, rotary vane pump | ca. 2003-2 | Herzberg am Harz |
Additional services
Quality
The reflectance of the coated mirrors is checked by diode laser reflection measurement and coating thickness measuring device; milling errors are checked with templates, remaining work is done manually. Preliminary EMC tests and EMC comparison measurements round off the internal testing activities.
| Evidence | Herzberg am Harz |
|---|---|
| Preliminary EMC tests | |
| Reflectance measurement (laser/detector) | |
| Coating thickness measurement | |
| ISO 9001 |
History
- ca. 1995
Self-construction of a mirror grinding machine with 300 mm diamond wheel and 6-axis milling motor suspension
- 2002
Start of the project of an own aluminum coating system
- 2003
Auction purchase of a stainless steel vessel and a turbomolecular pump on Ebay; completion of the system many years later
- 2017
Second comparison test of used EMC antennas