Abstract: In accordance with one specific embodiment of the present invention, the ion optics for use with an ion source have a plurality of electrically conductive grids that are mutually spaced apart and have mutually aligned respective pluralities of apertures through which ions may be accelerated and wherein each grid has an integral peripheral portion. A plurality of moment means are applied to a circumferentially distributed plurality of locations on the peripheral portion of each grid, which is initially flat, thereby establishing an annular segment of a cone as the approximate shape for that peripheral portion and a segment of a sphere as the approximate dished shape for the grid as a whole. The plurality of grids have conformal shapes in that the direction of deformation and the approximate spherical radii are the same.