30 Years of Magnetorheological Finishing: From the Origin Story to Today

Dr. Paul Dumas, Applications Engineering Manager at QED Technologies

Presented in Wegman's 1400 and on Zoom

Zoom Information

Zoom:https://rochester.zoom.us/j/5357600544?omn=95359248014
Meeting ID: 535 760 0544

Abstract

Magnetorheological Finishing (MRF) has become synonymous with high-precision polishing of complex optical components. It is used all around the world for applications ranging from EUV lithography to laser fusion, from satellites looking down to multi-meter telescopes looking up. And it all started right here in Rochester NY, at the Center for Optics Manufacturing at the University of Rochester. I am honored to be presenting this year's Dr. Steve Jacobs Memorial lecture, because not only was he a good friend and colleague, but because he was instrumental in the development of MRF at the University. In this talk, I will share the early history of the MRF development program: from its origins in Belarus through its demonstration of asphere polishing at COM. I'll discuss the challenges QED needed to overcome for it to become commercially viable as well as the evolution of the technology over the past 30 years.

Biography

Paul Dumas earned a BS and MS in Optics from the University of Rochester in the early 1990s. From 1992 through 1996, he pursued his PhD at the Institute of Optics, studying under Prof. Greg Forbes, and with Greg, began developing software to control prototype MRF machines at the Center for Optics Manufacturing (COM). This code later became the foundation for QED Technologies’ commercial Q22 product line. During this time, he first met and worked with Dr. Steve Jacobs, who was instrumental in the development of Magnetorheological Finishing research at COM. In 1997, Paul put his PhD on hold and helped co-found QED Technologies with the goal of commercializing MRF. During his 27 years at QED, he’s been responsible for Software development, Customer Service, System Engineering, and most recently, Applications Engineering. His early MRF development work won him the OSA Engineering Excellence Award in 2003. In 2023, he was inducted as a Fellow of the Optica Society.