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Soldered Optics - Adhesive-Free Mounting for Robust Photonic Systems

 PHOTONICPARTS develops solder-based mounting solutions for optical components where conventional adhesives reach their limits. By combining solderable thin-film metallization, CTE-matched submounts and flux-free soldering, optical components can be integrated into compact, vacuum-compatible and mechanically robust assemblies.This makes the technology highly suitable for application in harsh environments like defense, space and aerospace.

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Adhesives can become a limiting factor when optical systems are exposed to: 

  • elevated temperatures
  • thermal cycling
  • vacuum
  • UV radiation
  • mechanical shock and vibration
  • high optical power
  • long operating lifetimes

 

 How Flux-Free Soldering of Optical Components Works 

Optical components can be used in their original form without requiring a pre-applied solderable coating. At PHOTONICPARTS, we apply a locally defined solderable thin-film metallization directly onto the optical component using sputter deposition.

Where required, solder or solder alloys can also be deposited by PVD processes, enabling precise control of the solder material, layer thickness and local deposition area.

The metallized optical component is subsequently joined to a carefully selected, typically CTE-matched submount using our flux-free soldering technology.

By tailoring the metallization system, solder alloy, solder layer thickness and submount material to the optical substrate and operating conditions, thermally induced stress and deformation can be minimized while creating mechanically robust, vacuum-compatible and highly reproducible joints.

Typical optical components include mirrors, lenses, prisms, etalons, retroreflectors, laser crystals and other precision optical elements.

Active Solder Alignment

Optical components for machine-assisted assembly

 Our active solder alignment technology enables repeatable and precise positioning of optical components within a molten solder interface. Local remelting using integrated heaters allows optical elements to be repositioned and subsequently fixed with low mechanical stress — without conventional adhesive bonding or bulky adjustment mounts. The result is a compact, robust and precisely aligned optical assembly. 
 
  • Repeatedly adjustable while the solder is molten
  • Suitable for integration into automated assembly processes
  • Completely adhesive-free and suitable for vacuum environments
  • Integrated heater and temperature sensor available
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