Pushing the limits! This optical company has enabled ultra-precision equipment to reach the 30-nanometer mark!
Hunan University's Wuxi Semiconductor Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Center, established through a partnership between the university and the Xishan District People's Government under Academician Ding Rongjun, has achieved a significant breakthrough in optical manufacturing. The center successfully developed an air-bearing spindle capable of controlling precision within 30 nanometers, representing only 3% of the rotational error found in traditional mechanical bearings (approximately 1 micrometer). This achievement places the core indicators at the international advanced level.
To address the critical challenges in producing high-end optical lenses for smartphones and autonomous driving systems where even microscopic deviations can cause image distortion or edge blurring the Innovation Center adopted a "dual-track" model combining its research capabilities with Jiangsu Youpuna Technology Co., Ltd. (UPN) as the industrialization carrier. This collaboration allows for rapid technology transfer from lab to production, ensuring that vital components like core optical molds are manufactured domestically rather than relying on costly overseas imports or long delivery cycles.
The technical solution relies on independently developed high-precision air-bearing spindles and hydrostatic guideways, which allow moving parts to "float" via air and oil films, effectively eliminating vibration and mechanical wear. Additionally, the team created ultra-precision micro powder grinding wheels specifically designed for nanoscale surface smoothing of mold surfaces. As stated by Executive Director Yin Shaohui, this capability represents a unique position in the global market: while only a handful of companies worldwide produce such high-precision tools, UPN is currently the sole Chinese enterprise capable of industrializing these technologies and directly competing with international leaders.
Since its inception in 2022, UPN has consistently delivered batches of ultra-precision machine tools to customers while reinvesting profits into further R&D. This strategy has created a virtuous cycle that not only secures the domestic industrial chain's security but also solidifies China's status as a key player in the high-end optical manufacturing sector previously dominated by foreign entities.