As a deterministic finishing process for the optical parts having complex surface, machining performance of the magnetorheological(MR) fluid jet polishing of optical glass are studied and compared with a general water jet polishing. First, design of the jet polishing system which has the special electromagnet-nozzle unit for stabilizing the slurry jet based on MR fluid and the change of jet shape as magnetic field is applied are explained. Second, for the BK7 glass, machining spot and its cross section profile are analyzed and the unique effect of MR fluid jet polishing is shown. Third, both material removal depth and surface roughness are explored in order to investigate the polishing performance of MR fluid jet. With the same ceria abrasives and amount in the polishing slurries, MR fluid jet shows superior machining performance compared to water jet and the difference of material removal mechanism and its resulting performance are described.
