We found our winner …

Attila Chalupa – LP30

Budapest University of Technology and Economics

Department of Atomic Physics

We recently launched a campaign to discover the oldest, still used piece of Logitech equipment. We had many entries and thank everyone for their participation. We managed to discover an LP30 in Hungary that was procured in the 1970’s and is still used frequently to this day.

Mr Attila Chalupa, who now works in the Department of Atomic Physics at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics, has been the main user of this machine for over 25 years.

The machine originally started out life at the MFA Institute of Technical Physics and Materials Science, where Attila’s predecessor developed a project in the development and manufacture of Gadolinium Gallium Grenade (GGG) bubble memories.

GGG boules were grown in-house and further rounded to 1″-2″ diameter before being sliced to 2-3mm thickness. The samples were then bonded on to a 5″ bonding plate (polished up to 1-2 fringes) and grinded by 5um AI2O3 particles. The samples were then polished in a clean room environment on the LP30 machines removing a total of 0.5um/hour (for 10 hours) on each side of the sample. The next stages were chemical etching , epitaxial layer growth and a final re-polish of the surfaces.

Over the many years Attila spent at the MFA Institute, apart from GGG, he processed a wide variety of materials using the LP30 machines including; silicon, germanium, silicon carbide, barium borate, silicon nitride, ceramics and glasses. Due to the spread of costs of floppy discs they closed the GGG programme and proceeded with GGG samples for solid state lasers.

At the MFA institute Attila and the machine contributed to the process of sapphire, ruby and zirconia crystals.

From 2008 Attila and the machine relocated to the Department of Atomic Physics at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics, where they have mainly processed tellurium dioxide, lithium niobate, crystals, glass prisms and lenses as well as metal flats (e.g. vacuum chucks).

Attila works closely with colleague Gergo Meszaros of ELI-HU Non-Profit Ltd. where he works with another ageing (although not as antique as the LP30) Logitech system, the PM4 precision lapping & polishing system.

Attila’s LP30 has definitely withstood the test of time and the test of processing a wide range of materials for various applications. This is a true testament to the robust engineering of the LP30 and the correct care and maintenance throughout the years by Attila and any other operators of the machine.

Attila will be visiting Logitech later in the year to undertake his Process Development Training Course which will be tailored to his requested application requirements.  Here he will benefit from high levels of technology transfer which has been developed over 50 years of experience.