Polishing system and method for soft metal surfaces using CO2 snow

摘要

A system (10) and method for polishing metal surfaces (20), such as gold mirror surfaces, and the like, using CO2 snow (18) is disclosed. The system and method produces sub-Angstrom surface roughness of the polished metal surface. The system includes an enclosure (12) for holding a component (32) having a metal surface (20) that is to be polished. A CO2 jet spray system (11) is provided for producing solid CO2 gas snow (18). An operator-controllable robotic arm (30) is used to position the component (32) within the enclosure (12) and position the CO2 jet spray system (11) relative to the surface (20) to polish it. The CO2 jet spray system (10) polishes the metal surface (20) using mechanical action derived the from the solid CO2 gas snow (18) produced by controlled expansion of liquid CO2. The method comprises disposing the component having the metal surface that is to be polished into an enclosure. Solid CO2 gas snow is generated within the enclosure using the CO2 jet spray system. The CO2 jet spray system is moved to move the solid CO2 gas snow (18) relative to the surface of the component to polish the metal surface. <IMAGE>