Abstract: A method of forming an optical component includes depositing slurry that includes glass powder material onto a facesheet and fusing the glass powder material to a facesheet to form a first core material layer on the facesheet. The method also includes successively fusing glass powder material in a plurality of additional core material layers to build a core material structure on the facesheet. The method can include selectively depositing slurry including glass powder material over only a portion of at least one of the facesheet, the first core material layer, and/or the one of the additional core material layers. Depositing the slurry can include extruding the slurry from an extruder.

Abstract: A method includes placing a first part proximate a second part, disposing a sintering material in contact with both the first part and the second part, and applying energy to the sintering material to join the first part and the second part. An apparatus includes a first part, a second part, and an additively manufactured joint comprising a sintering material that joins the first part and the second part.

Abstract: A method includes applying a laser directly to a surface of a glass substrate to smooth the surface of the glass substrate. The method can further include applying a reflective coating directly to the smoothed surface of the glass substrate. An apparatus can include a titania-silica glass substrate having a laser polished surface that is not a separate layer from the glass substrate. The apparatus can include a reflective surface applied directly to the laser polished surface.

Abstract: A method includes placing a first part proximate a second part, disposing a sintering material in contact with both the first part and the second part, and applying energy to the sintering material to join the first part and the second part. An apparatus includes a first part, a second part, and an additively manufactured joint comprising a sintering material that joins the first part and the second part.

Abstract: A method of forming an optical component includes depositing slurry that includes glass powder material onto a facesheet and fusing the glass powder material to a facesheet to form a first core material layer on the facesheet. The method also includes successively fusing glass powder material in a plurality of additional core material layers to build a core material structure on the facesheet. The method can include selectively depositing slurry including glass powder material over only a portion of at least one of the facesheet, the first core material layer, and/or the one of the additional core material layers. Depositing the slurry can include extruding the slurry from an extruder.

Abstract: A method of forming an optical component includes fusing glass powder material to a facesheet to form a first core material layer on the facesheet. The method also includes successively fusing glass powder material in a plurality of additional core material layers to build a core material structure on the facesheet. The method can include positioning the facesheet on a mandrel prior to fusing glass powder material to the facesheet. Fusing glass powder material to the facesheet can include fusing the glass powder material to a polishable surface of the facesheet.