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VOOZH | about |
For more than 70 years, General Dynamics has designed and manufactured custom precision metal optical components for defense, space and airborne applications. We provide end-to-end design, fabrication and testing of beryllium and aluminum optics that have gone into some of the worldβs most advanced optical systems that support critical airborne and space-based targeting, surveillance and observation missions.
Since 1998, the General Dynamics team in Cullman, Alabama has built 21 primary mirror segments, two secondary mirrors, 21 delta frames, 10 various aft optical components and beryllium panels for the James Webb Space Telescope.
General Dynamics announced that it has been selected by Raytheon Missiles and Defense to provide advanced optical components and structures for the Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IB and SM-3 Block IIA interceptors with two firm-fixed price contracts.
The Mars 2020 roverβs wheels and suspension are supported by custom beryllium components that were manufactured at General Dynamics' Cullman, AL facility. Beryllium is extremely strong and lightweight, making it ideal for the harsh environment of the Red Planet.
We provide close tolerance machining and processing of beryllium and its alloys to deliver optics and optical assemblies with precise, complex geometric features. With over 70 years of experience and state-of-the art equipment we can achieve virtually unmatched tolerances. One-third the weight of aluminum, six times stiffer than steel and with a high thermal stability, beryllium is the ideal material for applications in space or other harsh environments. We machine our beryllium to tolerances up to +/- one ten thousandths of an inch (0.0001 in.) and we lap and polish down to +/- 5 millionths (.0000005 in.) of an inch to meet the most demanding mission requirements. Applications include:
We provide milling capabilities to produce precise, light-weight structures from high performance materials including Beryllium and its alloys, Titanium, Aluminum, Quartz, machineable glass, Inconel, Magnesium and other exotic and conventional materials. Applications for our milling capabilities include:
We provide precision capabilities to generate complicated part geometries from high-performance materials including Beryllium and its alloys, Titanium, Aluminum, Inconel, stainless steel forgings and other exotic and conventional materials. Possible applications include:
We provide precision electrical discharge machining (EDM) of high-performance materials including Beryllium and its alloys, Titanium, Aluminum, stainless steel and other thermally conductive materials. Possible applications include:
General Dynamics provides lapping and grinding capabilities for high performance materials including Beryllium and its alloys, Titanium, Aluminum, Quartz, Sapphire, machineable glass and ceramics. Possible applications include:
We design and manufacture custom precision metal optical components and optical assemblies for commercial, defense and space-based applications. We provide end-to-end design, fabrication and testing of beryllium and aluminum optics ranging from single- and multi-faceted scan mirrors to plano and aspheric mirrors to complex telescope assemblies.
For more information about our beryllium machining solutions, you may contact us.
Phone: 256-737-5200
Fax: 256-739-8298
General Dynamics Mission Systems
6717 Alabama Highway 157
Cullman, AL 35057
We are also equipped to machine other exotic and conventional materials, including titanium, aluminum, quartz and glass. Download our datasheet for a complete listing of our Precision Machining In-House Capabilities.
Download our complete listing of Precision Machining In-House Capabilities
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