Patent ID: 6855036

Claim:
A part-holding fixture for grinding wedged optical flats comprising: a fixture body having an axis of rotation; a first end of the fixture body being adapted for rotation by a machine work spindle; a second end of the fixture body being adapted for mounting an optical flat having top and bottom planar surfaces; an aperture formed through the first end of the fixture body in communication with a recess formed in the second end of the fixture body for drawing a vacuum through the fixture body; a mounting land formed in the second end of the fixture body surrounding the recess and having a closed shape for forming a vacuum seal against the bottom planar surface of the optical flat; a collar mounted on the fixture body surrounding the mounting land for centering the optical flat with respect to the rotational axis of the fixture body; and the mounting land being oriented in a plane whose normal is inclined to the rotational axis of the fixture body for grinding the top planar surface at a wedge angle with respect to the bottom planar surface.