Field Guide to

Optomechanical
Design and
Analysis
Katie Schwertz
James H. Burge

SPIE Field Guides

Volume FG26

John E. Greivenkamp, Series Editor

Bellingham, Washington USA

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Schwertz, Katie M.
Field guide to optomechanical design and analysis / Katie
M. Schwertz, Jim H. Burge.
p. cm. – (The field guide series)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-8194-9161-9
1. Optical instruments–Design and construction–
Handbooks, manuals, etc. 2. Optomechanics–
Handbooks, manuals, etc. I. Burge, James H. II. Title.
TS513.S385 2012
6810.4–dc23
2012013233
Published by
SPIE
P.O. Box 10
Bellingham, Washington 98227-0010 USA
Phone: +1.360.676.3290
Fax: +1.360.647.1445
Email: [email protected]
Web: http://spie.org

Copyright © 2012 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumenta-

tion Engineers (SPIE)
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be re-
produced or distributed in any form or by any means with-
out written permission of the publisher.
The content of this book reflects the work and thought of
the author. Every effort has been made to publish reliable
and accurate information herein, but the publisher is not
responsible for the validity of the information or for any
outcomes resulting from reliance thereon. For the latest
updates about this title, please visit the book’s page on our
website.
Printed in the United States of America.
First printing
 Introduction to the Series

Welcome to the SPIE Field Guides—a series of publica-

tions written directly for the practicing engineer or sci-
entist. Many textbooks and professional reference books
cover optical principles and techniques in depth. The aim
of the SPIE Field Guides is to distill this information,
providing readers with a handy desk or briefcase refer-
ence that provides basic, essential information about op-
tical principles, techniques, or phenomena, including def-
initions and descriptions, key equations, illustrations, ap-
plication examples, design considerations, and additional
resources. A significant effort will be made to provide a
consistent notation and style between volumes in the se-
ries.
Each SPIE Field Guide addresses a major field of optical
science and technology. The concept of these Field Guides
is a format-intensive presentation based on figures and
equations supplemented by concise explanations. In most
cases, this modular approach places a single topic on a
page, and provides full coverage of that topic on that page.
Highlights, insights, and rules of thumb are displayed in
sidebars to the main text. The appendices at the end of
each Field Guide provide additional information such as
related material outside the main scope of the volume,
key mathematical relationships, and alternative methods.
While complete in their coverage, the concise presentation
may not be appropriate for those new to the field.
The SPIE Field Guides are intended to be living
documents. The modular page-based presentation format
allows them to be easily updated and expanded. We are
interested in your suggestions for new Field Guide topics
as well as what material should be added to an individual
volume to make these Field Guides more useful to you.
Please contact us at [email protected].
John E. Greivenkamp, Series Editor
College of Optical Sciences
The University of Arizona

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

 Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and
Analysis

Optomechanics is a field of mechanics that addresses

the specific design challenges associated with optical
systems. This Field Guide describes how to mount optical
components, as well as how to analyze a given design.
It is intended for practicing optical and mechanical
engineers whose work requires knowledge in both optics
and mechanics.
Throughout the text, we describe typical mounting
approaches for lenses, mirrors, prisms, and windows;
standard hardware and the types of adjustments
and stages available to the practicing engineer are
also included. Common issues involved with mounting
optical components are discussed, including stress, glass
strength, thermal effects, vibration, and errors due to
motion. A useful collection of material properties for
glasses, metals, and adhesives, as well as guidelines
for tolerancing optics and machined parts can be found
throughout the book.
The structure of the book follows Jim Burge’s optomechan-
ics course curriculum at the University of Arizona. We of-
fer our thanks to all those who helped with the book’s de-
velopment and who provided content and input. Much of
the subject matter and many of the designs are derived
from the work of Paul Yoder and Dan Vukobratovich; their
feedback is greatly appreciated.
Katie Schwertz
Edmund Optics®

Jim Burge
College of Optical Sciences
University of Arizona

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

 v

Table of Contents

List of Symbols and Acronyms ix

Image Motion and Orientation 1
Optical Effects of Mechanical Motion 1
Lens and Mirror Motion 2
Plane Parallel Plate 3
General Image-Motion Equations 4
Image Motion Example 5
Rigid Body Rotation 6
Quantifying Pointing Error 7
Image Orientation 8
Mirror Matrices 10
Mirror Rotation Matrices 12
Cone Intersecting a Plane 13

Stress, Strain, and Material Strength 14

Stress and Strain 14
Strain-vs-Stress Curve 16
Safety Factor 17
Glass Strength 18
Stress Birefringence 20

Precision Positioning 22
Kinematic Constraint 22
Example Constraints and Degrees of Freedom 23
Semi-Kinematic Design 24
Issues with Point Contacts 25
Precision Motion 27
Stage Terminology 28
Linear Stages 29
Rotation and Tilt Stages 30
Errors in Stage Motion 31

Precision Fastening and Adjustments 32

Standard Hardware 32
Example Screws 33
Fastener Strength 34
Tightening Torque 36
Adjusters 37
Differential Screws and Shims 38
Liquid Pinning 39
Electronic Drivers 40
Flexures 41
Stiffness Relations for Single-Strip Flexures 42

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

vi

Table of Contents

Parallel Leaf Strip Flexures 43

Stiffness Relations for Parallel Leaf Strip
Flexures 44
Notch Hinge Flexures 45
Adhesives 46
Adhesive Properties 47
Adhesive Thickness and Shape Factor 48
Thermal Stress 49
Choice of Bond Size and Thickness 50

Mounting of Optical Components 51

Lens Mounts: Off the Shelf 51
Lens Mounting: Custom 53
Calculating Torque and Clearance 54
Potting a Lens with Adhesive 55
Clamped Flange Mount 56
Lens Barrel Assemblies 57
Lens Barrel Assembly Types 58
Surface–Contact Interfaces 60
Prism Types 62
Image-Rotation Prisms 64
Image-Erection Prisms 65
Prism and Beamsplitter Mounting 66
Thin-Wedge Systems 68
Window Mounting 69
Domes 72
Dome Strength 73
Small-Mirror Mounts: Off the Shelf 74
Small-Mirror Mounts: Adhesives and
Clamping 75
Small-Mirror Mounts: Tangent Flexure and
Hub 76
Mirror Substrates 77
Mirror Substrate Examples 79
Large-Mirror Mounting: Lateral Supports 80
Large-Mirror Mounting: Point Supports 81
Large-Mirror Mounting: Active Supports 82
Self-Weight Deflection: General 83
Self-Weight Deflection: Thin Plates 84
Self-Weight Deflection: Parametric Model 85
Lightweighting Mirrors 86
Flexural Rigidity of Lightweighted Mirrors 88

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

 vii

Table of Contents

Design Considerations and Analysis 89

RMS, P–V, and Slope Specifications 89
Finite Element Analysis 90
Vibration 94
Damping Factor 95
Isolation 96
System Acceleration and Displacement 97
Thermal Effects 98
Heat Flow 100
Air Index of Refraction 102
Athermalization 103
Passive Athermalization 104
Active Athermalization 105
Determining Thermally Induced Stress 106
Alignment 107
Optical and Mechanical Axis of a Lens 108
Alignment Tools 109

Tolerancing 110
Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing 110
GD&T Terminology 111
GD&T Symbology 112
ISO 10110 Standard 113

Appendices 114
Tolerance Guides 114
Clean-Room Classifications 117
Shipping Environments: Vibration 119
Shipping Environments: Drop Heights 120
Unit Conversions 121
Cost and Performance Tradeoffs for Linear
Stages 122
Torque Charts 125
Adhesive Properties 127
Glass Properties 130
Metal Properties 134

Equation Summary 136

Glossary 141
Bibliography 144
References 148
Index 149

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

 ix

List of Symbols and Acronyms

%TMC Percent total mass lost

%CVCM Percent collected volatile condensable
material
a Acceleration
A Area
CAD Computer-aided design
COTS Commercial off-the-shelf
Cp Specific heat capacity
CTE Coefficient of thermal expansion
CVD Chemical vapor deposition
d Displacement
d Distance
D Diameter
D Thermal diffusivity
D flexural rigidity
E Young’s modulus
f Focal length
F Force, load
f0 Natural frequency (Hz)
FEA Finite element analysis
FEM Finite element method
g Gravity (9.8 m/s2 )
G Shear modulus
GD&T Geometric dimensioning and tolerancing
h Height, thickness
IR Infrared
k Stiffness
K Bulk modulus
Kc Fracture toughness
Ks Stress optic coefficient
l Length
L Length
LMC Least material condition
LOS Line of sight
m Magnification
m Mass
MMC Maximum material condition
MoS Margin of safety
n Index of refraction
NA Numerical aperture
NIST National Institute of Standards and
Technology

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

x

List of Symbols and Acronyms

OPD Optical path difference

P Preload
p Pressure
PEL Precision elastic limit
ppm Parts per million (1 × 10−6 )
PSD Power spectral density
psi Pounds per square inch
P–V Peak to valley
Q Heat flux
r Radius (distance, i.e., 0.5D )
R Radius (of curvature)
RSS Root sum square
RTV Room-temperature vulcanization
t Thickness
T Temperature
UTS Unified thread standard
UV Ultraviolet
x, y, z Distances in the x, y, or z axis
α Coefficient of thermal expansion
β Therm-optic coefficient (coefficient of
thermal defocus)
γ Shear strain
δ Deflection
∆T Change in temperature
∆x Change in lateral distance ( x axis)
∆y Change in lateral distance ( y axis)
∆z Change in axial distance
 Emissivity
ε Strain
ζ Damping factor
θ Angle
λ Thermal conductivity
ν Poisson ratio
ρ Density
σ Stress
σ ys Yield strength
τ Shear stress
ω Frequency
ω0 Natural frequency (rad/s)

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Image Motion and Orientation 1

Optical Effects of Mechanical Motion

When an optical element in a system is

perturbed, the produced image will be af-
fected. An optical element can be perturbed
axially (despace), laterally (decenter), or
angularly (tip/tilt).

These effects are typically referred to as line-of-sight

(LOS) error. A dynamic disturbance of the LOS, for
example, vibration of a system, is typically called jitter.
Various sources of jitter in a system can tend to be
correlated.
LOS error can be measured from either object space
or image space. If measured from image space, the
error shows up as a displacement on the image plane.
If measured from object space, the error appears as an
angular shift of the object.
The z axis in a coordinate system is typically defined as
the optical axis, which is the path or direction of light
passing through an optical system. It is assumed that this
axis passes through the theoretical center of rotationally
symmetric elements.
The term axial (as in axial motion) will therefore refer to
the z axis, whereas the term lateral refers to the x and y
axes.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

2 Image Motion and Orientation

Lens and Mirror Motion

Lateral motion of a lens will cause both a lateral

shift and angular deviation of the light from its nominal
path. The magnitude of the shift is a function of the
magnification m of the lens:

∆ xl = ∆ x i (1 − m)
∆ xl
∆θ i ∼
=
f

Axial motion of a lens will cause an axial shift of the

image focus:

³ ´
∆ z l = ∆ z i 1 − m2

Tilt of a lens will have a negligible effect on image motion;

however, aberrations will be introduced into the image.
Regarding mirror motion, if a mirror is tilted by a given
amount, the light will undergo an angular deviation of
twice that amount. If a mirror
is displaced axially, the image
focus will be shifted by twice the
displacement:

∆θ i = 2∆θm
∆ z i = 2∆ z m

Lateral motion of a flat mirror will have no effect (unless

the light falls off the edge of the mirror). Lateral motion
of a mirror with power will cause the light to undergo an
angular deviation, given by

∆ xm
∆θ i ∼
=
f

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Image Motion and Orientation 3

Plane Parallel Plate

Regardless of position or orientation, inserting a plane

parallel plate in a converging beam will cause a focus
shift, given by
(n − 1)
∆z = t
n

For most glass in the visible spectrum, the focus shift can
be estimated by
t
∆z ∼
=
3
Tilt of a plane parallel plate will introduce aberrations and
cause a lateral shift in the image, given by
t∆θ p ( n − 1)
∆xi =
n

For a 45-deg tilt, the lateral shift can be estimated by

t
∆xi ∼
=
3

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

4 Image Motion and Orientation

General Image-Motion Equations

The general image-motion equations describe the

image shift produced by the motion of a single element
or group of elements in a system. For tilt or decenter, the
amount of image motion can be found by
D i ∆θ i N A 0i
ε= − ∆ yi
2 N A im N A im

For axial motion of an element or group of elements, the

focal shift can be estimated by
à !
N A 0i2 ± N A 2i
∆ z f = ∆ zE
N A 2im
or
³ ´³ ´³ ´ ³ ´
∆ z f = ∆ zE 1 ± m2i m2i+1 m2i+2 · · · m2N

− for refractive surfaces

+ for reflective surfaces

∆ z f = focal shift from nominal

∆ zE = axial shift of the element(s)
N A im = numerical aperture in the image plane
N A i = numerical aperture entering element i (estimated
by the angle of light entering the element(s) relative to
the optical axis)
N A 0i = numerical aperture exiting element i
m i = magnification of the element(s) in motion
D i = beam diameter at element i
∆θ i = change in central ray angle due to perturbation of
element i

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Image Motion and Orientation 5

Image Motion Example

For lens or mirror i with focal length f i and decenter ∆ yi ,

the resulting image motion is
Di ∆ yi
ε∼
=
2 N A im f i
Tilt of mirror j by ∆θ j causes image motion of
Dj
ε∼
= ∆θ j
N A im

Effect of Effect of
Effect of
Element axial lateral
tilt
translation translation

Lens No image Axial image Lateral image

motion, shift shift, LOS
adds angular
aberrations deviation
Flat LOS Axial image No effect
mirror angular shift (2×
deviation translation)
(2× tilt)
Powered LOS Axial image Lateral image
mirror angular shift shift, LOS
deviation angular
(2× tilt) deviation
Window No effect No effect No effect

Although some of the perturbations shown here are listed

as having no effect, this is for an ideal optic. In reality,
imperfections in an element (such as a wedge in a window)
mean that a tilt or translation of the component could in
fact add to the aberration content of the image or shift the
image location. Care should be taken that the motion of an
element does not cause the light to fall off the edge of the
component or outside of the clear aperture.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

6 Image Motion and Orientation

Rigid Body Rotation

The rotation of a rigid body around a single point is

equivalent to a rotation around any other point, plus a
translation. To calculate the effect of rotating an optical
system, the rotation can be decomposed into
• translation of the nodal point and
• rotation around that point.

Image motion is caused only by the translation of the

nodal point, given an infinite conjugate system.
For example, given a system that rotates a given amount
∆θ around point A, the effect can be calculated by

∆θ rotation at A = rotation at N + translation from A to N

= no effect (0) + (α)(AN)

If an optical system, represented by its principal planes, is

rotated around an arbitrary point C, the image motion is
given by
à !
³ ´ CP
∆ x = ∆θ PP 0 + ∆θ d0
f

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Image Motion and Orientation 7

Quantifying Pointing Error

In a given system, many sources of error affect system

performance. If each of these causes is independent or
approximately independent, the effects combine as a root
sum square (RSS). Examples of independent errors
include the radii of curvature for each lens, the tilt of one
element, or the distortion of an element due to gravity. For
each given error x i , the total error is found by

q
RSS error = x12 + x22 + x32 + . . . x2i

The total error is dominated by the largest errors, and the

smallest contributors are negligible. System performance
can be improved most efficiently by reducing the largest
contributors. The smallest contributors may be increased
(by relaxing a requirement) to reduce cost without greatly
affecting system performance.

When errors are coupled with each other (e.g., when

a group of elements moves together or when multiple
elements are positioned relative to a reference surface),
the combined effect cannot be found using RSS. Each
element contribution should be calculated and summed
together, keeping the sign, to find the total system effect.

A useful interpretation of this rule is that by knowing the

tolerances x i to a certain confidence value, the RSS then
represents the overall confidence level of the analysis.
Tolerances are typically defined to a 95% confidence value
(±2σ for a normal/Gaussian distribution), so the RSS
would also represent a net 95% confidence level. NIST
provides very detailed online explanations for uncertainty
analysis in measurements (see Ref. 1).

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

8 Image Motion and Orientation

Image Orientation

When an image is reflected off of a mirror or

travels through a prism, the orientation of the image
may be altered. A reverted image is flipped along
a vertical axis, whereas an
inverted image is flipped along
a horizontal axis. An image
that experiences a reversion and
inversion undergoes a 180-deg
rotation.
The parity of an image de-
scribes whether the image is
right-handed or left-handed.
If the light experiences an even number of reflections, the
image will be right-handed and is said to have “even par-
ity,” whereas an odd number of reflections will produce a
left-handed image, referred to as “odd parity.”

A useful way to visualize image orientation is to use

the pencil bounce trick. For a reflection in a system,
imagine a pencil traveling along the optical axis with a
given orientation. “Bounce” the pencil off of the mirror to
determine the image orientation for that axis. Repeat this
trick with the pencil for each axis to determine the entire
image orientation.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Image Motion and Orientation 9

Image Orientation (cont.)

When an object is rotated, the direction of the rotation

is named based on the axis of rotation: a rotation in x is
called pitch, in y is called yaw, and in z is called roll.

The effect of the image shift from light passing through

glass can be accommodated by replacing the glass with an
air-space equivalent. If the path length in a glass (with
refractive index n) is t, then the reduced thickness is
t/n.

A tunnel diagram unfolds the reflections in the optical

path through a prism, which permits viewing the path
that the light travels. The thickness of a tunnel diagram
can be reduced to accommodate the image shift.

Dove prism

Dove prism
tunnel diagram

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

10 Image Motion and Orientation

Mirror Matrices

Matrix formalism can be used to model the reflection of

light from plane mirrors. We can represent the x, y, and z
components of a light ray with standard vector notation:

Light propagation Surface normal

   
kx nx
k̂ i =  k y  n̂ =  n y 
kz nz

For example, light traveling in the z direction would be

represented as:
 
0
k̂ = 0
1

By multiplying the incoming ray vector with a given

mirror matrix, the direction of the reflected ray can be
determined.

The law of reflection states that, under

ideal conditions, the angle of incidence
of light on a mirror will equal the angle
of reflection. This phenomenon can be
written in vector notation as
¡ ¢
k̂ 2 = k̂ 1 − 2 k̂ 1 · n̂ n̂

where k̂1 and k̂2 are the vectors representing the

incident and reflected light, respectively. The vector law
of reflection can be written in matrix form as
 
1 − 2n2x 2n x n y 2n x n z
 
k2 = M · k1 M = I − 2n̂ · n̂T =  2n x n y 1 − 2n2y 2n y n z 
2n x n z 2n y n z 1 − 2n2z

where M is the mirror matrix, and I is the identity matrix.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Image Motion and Orientation 11

Mirror Matrices (cont.)

Common mirror matrices include the following:

   
1 0 0 −1 0 0
Free space: M = 0 1 0 X Mirror: M x =  0 1 0
0 0 1 0 0 1
   
1 0 0 1 0 0
Y Mirror: M y = 0 −1 0 Z Mirror: M z = 0 1 0 
0 0 1 0 0 −1

As an example, if light is incident at 45 deg on an X mirror

(a mirror that has its normal in the x direction),

 
0. 7
k 2 = M x · k 1 = 0.7
0
   
1 −0.7
n̂ = 0 k 1 =  0.7 
0 0

Reflections from multiple mirrors can be represented by

reducing the system of reflections into a single 3×3 matrix:

k i = [M i · · · M2 · M1 ][ k 1 ]
= Me f f · k1

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

12 Image Motion and Orientation

Mirror Rotation Matrices

If a plane mirror is rotated, the following matrix is used

for M:

Mrot = R · M · RT
where the rotation matrices are given by:

 
1 0 0
X Rotation: R x = 0 cos α − sin α
0 sin α cos α

 
cos β 0 sin β
Y Rotation: R y =  0 1 0 
− sin β 0 cos β

 
cos γ − sin γ 0
Z Rotation: R z = sin γ cos γ 0
0 0 1
Note that a mirror normal to a given axis will be
insensitive to rotation in that axis and cause 2θ rotation
in each of the other two axes.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Image Motion and Orientation 13

Cone Intersecting a Plane

When a cone of light intersects a tilted plane, for example,

when a converging beam is incident on a tilted mirror, a
number of geometric relationships can be defined (see
figure below):

W = D + 2L · tan α A = E+F

W · cos α
E= G = ( A /2) − F
2sin(θ − α)

W · cos α AW
F= B = q¡ ¢
2sin(θ + α) A 2 − 4G 2

If the beam is collimated, then both α = 0 and G = 0, and

the equations above reduce to:

W W
W =D=B E=F= A=
2sin θ sin θ

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

14 Stress, Strain, and Material Strength

Stress and Strain

In mechanics, a body can be subjected to many forces. The

most common way of defining these forces is by classifying
them as a stress or a strain. Stress σ occurs when a
body is subjected to a force or load, which is quantified by
dividing the applied force F by the cross-sectional area A
on which the force is acting. The
units of stress are psi (pounds per Pa = N/mm2
square inch) or Pascals (N/m2 ). 1 psi = 6895 Pa
F 1 MPa = 145 psi
σ=
A
This equation assumes that the force is applied normal
to the cross-sectional area; when the force is applied
tangential to a surface V, it is called shear stress τ:
V
τ=
A
Strain ε occurs when a body is subjected to an axial force:
it is the ratio of the change in length of the body to the
original length.
∆L
ε=
L
Shear strain γ, which is a function of the shear modulus
of the material G, occurs when the body is strained in an
angular way. Strain is unitless,
whereas shear strain is
expressed in radians. Stress
and strain can be the re-
sult of a compressive or
tensile force.

∆z τ
γ= γ=
x G
dFshear
τ=
dA
σ dFnormal
ε= σ=
E dA

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Stress, Strain, and Material Strength 15

Stress and Strain (cont.)

If a compressive force is placed along one axis of a

material, it will bulge or expand in another axis (this
is especially true for rubber). This effect is called the
Poisson effect or bulge effect. From this effect, a
variable may be defined that describes the change in an
object’s dimension, relative to the other dimensions, due to
a force; this is known as the Poisson ratio [ν = −(x / y )],
and for most materials it is in the range of 0.25 to 0.35.
Rubber is close to the limiting value of 0.5, with volume
being conserved.
Another important material property is Young’s modu-
lus E (also called the modulus of elasticity), which de-
scribes the stiffness of a material; it is defined as the ra-
tio of stress to strain. Another useful material property
is the bulk modulus K, which defines the compressibil-
ity of a material under uniform pressure. It is defined as
[(∆V )/V = P /K ] or, for isotropic materials, [K = E /3(1 − 2ν)].
The following relationships are true for a homogeneous,
linear, isotropic material:

(E, G) (K , G) (G, ν)
EG 2G (1+ν)
K= 3(3G −E )
— 3(1−2ν)

— 9KG 2G (1 + ν)
E= 3K +G

G= — — —
E 3K −2G
ν= 2G − 1 2(3K +G )
—

(E, ν) (K , ν) (K , E)
E
K= 3(1−2ν)
— —

E= — 3K (1 − 2ν) —
E 3K (1−2ν) 3K E
G= 2(1+ν) 2(1+ν) 9K −E

— — 3K −E
ν= 6K

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

16 Stress, Strain, and Material Strength

Strain-vs-Stress Curve

A typical stress-versus-strain curve for metal is shown

below:

When a material is near its breaking point, it no longer

acts in a linear fashion. The stress at which the curve
is no longer linear is called the proportional limit. As
the curve loses linearity, there is a point at which the
forces on the body can be released before the breaking
point is reached; if this happens, then the body will return
to equilibrium. However, at some point the stress and
strain will be too great on the material, and it will be
permanently deformed. The minimum point at which this
occurs is called the yield strength σ y .
When permanent deformation occurs, if the forces are
released from the object, the curve will return to zero but
with a displacement in the x axis. This displacement is
known as the set. The precision elastic limit (σPEL )
defines when the set is equal to 1 ppm (parts per million)
(parts per million, i.e., 1 part in 10−6 ).
The maximum stress a material can withstand before
failure is called the ultimate strength (X in the figure
above) of the material. The stress-vs-strain curve for a
glass is slightly different: the relationship is linear up to
the point that the glass breaks.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Stress, Strain, and Material Strength 17

Safety Factor

A safety factor describes the ability of a system to

withstand a certain load or stress compared to what it will
actually experience.
Safety factor = allowed stress / applied stress

For optics and optical systems, a safety factor of 2–4

is typically applied. Decisions about the safety factors
should consider the importance of the application, the
familiarity of the materials and conditions, and whether
or not personal safety is involved.
The margin of safety (MoS) is a measure of the extra
capacity or ability of a design. Typically, the MoS is set
as a requirement for an application by either a national
standard or a regulatory agency/code:
Margin of safety = safety factor − 1

Any positive number implies added safety or capacity over

the design load, whereas a MoS of 0 (safety factor of 1)
implies that failure is imminent.

Material Favorable
Symbol Units
property condition
Coefficient of α 10−6 Low
thermal m/m/◦ C
expansion (CTE)
Young’s modulus E GPa High
Density ρ g/cm3 Low
Poisson ratio ν — —
Thermal λ W/m-K High
conductivity
Thermal D m2 /s High
diffusivity
Specific heat Cp J/kg-K Low
capacity
Specific stiffness E/ρ N-m/kg High

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

18 Stress, Strain, and Material Strength

Glass Strength

Glass is a brittle material, and if it fails, it will typically

fail by fracture. Small surface flaws are present in any
glass, and when placed under stress, these flaws can
propagate and cause catastrophic failure.

• As a conservative rule of thumb, glass can withstand

tensile stresses of 1,000 psi (6.9 MPa) and
compressive stresses of 50,000 psi (345 MPa) before
problems or failures occur.

• For tensile stress, these limits can be increased

to 2,000 psi for polished surfaces or 4,000 psi for
instantaneous loads.

Unfortunately, there is no characteristic strength value for

a given glass. The tensile and compressive strength of any
given optic depends on a large variety of factors, including
the area of the surface under stress, surface finish,
size of internal flaws, glass composition, surrounding
environment, and the amount and duration of the load. In
general, glass is weaker with increasing moisture in the
air and is able to withstand rapid, short loads better than
slow lengthy loads.
Glass failure is always due to the propagation of flaws,
but there are a number of ways to model this effect. One
method involves looking at the statistical effect of the
surface finish on glass failure. The distribution of surface
flaws is examined, and failure prediction is based on test
data. Another approach assumes that the size of the flaw is
known and predicts failure based on fracture mechanics.

Glass corners are fragile—always use a bevel unless a

sharp corner is needed (as in a roof for a prism), in which
case, protect the corner.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Stress, Strain, and Material Strength 19

Glass Strength (cont.)

Weibull statistics are commonly used to predict the

probability of failure and strength of a glass. This
approach assumes that flaws and loads remain constant
over time. The mathematical distribution is given by
³ ´m
− σσ
Pf = 1− e 0

P f = probability of failure

σ = applied tensile stress at the surface

σ0 = characteristic strength (stress at which 63.2% of

samples fail)

m = Weibull modulus (indicator of the scatter of the

distribution of the data)

A list of Weibull parameters are shown below for some

common glasses (see Ref. 2). These values are a strong
function of surface finish. The probability of failure is also
displayed for an applied stress of 6.9 MPa (1,000 psi).

Fracture
tough- Surface
Material nessp m σ0 (MPa) Pf finish
(MPa– m)
N-BK7 0.85 30.4 70.6 0 SiC 600
N-BK7 0.85 13.3 50.3 3.36 × 10−12 D4
N-BaK1 — 8.2 58.9 2.31 × 10−3 SiC 600
F2 0.55 25 57.1 0 SiC 600
SF6 0.7 5.4 49.2 2.47 × 10−5 SiC 600
Zerodur® 0.9 5.3 293.8 2.5 × 10−9 Optical
polish
Zerodur® 0.9 16 108 0 SiC 600

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

20 Stress, Strain, and Material Strength

Stress Birefringence

For a given stress, a material will fail if a flaw exceeds the

critical length a c :
a c = critical depth of flaw
µ ¶
Kc 2 K c = fracture toughness of glass
ac =
2σ0 (material property)
σ0 = applied tensile stress
The maximum flaw depth can be estimated to be three
times the diameter of the average grinding particle used
for the final grinding operation.
Stress birefringence is the effect produced when an
optic has a different index of refraction for light polarized
parallel or perpendicular to the stress. It is expressed in
terms of optical path difference (OPD) per unit path length
of the light (nm/cm).
Residual stress is always present in glass due to the
annealing and/or fabrication process. However, additional
stress birefringence
can result from stress Stress birefringence
being placed on the Grade (nm/cm)
glass. The residual
1 ≤ 4 (precision
stress present in glass annealing)
can be quantified by 2 5–9 (fine annealing)
referencing a grade. 3 10–19 (commercial
annealing)
4 ≥ 20 (coarse annealing)

Permissible OPD
Typical applications
per cm glass path
< 2 nm/cm Polarization instruments
Interference instruments
5 nm/cm Precision optics
Astronomical instruments
10 nm/cm Photographic optics
Microscope optics
20 nm/cm Magnifying glasses
Viewfinder optics
Without requirement Illumination optics

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Stress, Strain, and Material Strength 21

Stress Birefringence (cont.)

The wavefront retardance between polarization states

∆Wp that occurs in a glass under an applied stress
(expressed in waves) can be found by ∆Wp = (K s σ t)/λ,
where σ is the applied tensile or compressive stress and
t is the thickness (path length of light).
The stress optic coefficient K s is a material property
expressed in mm2 /N and is typically provided on the
data sheet for a given glass; it describes the relationship
between the applied stress on a material and the resulting
change in optical path difference.

As a general estimate, 1 nm/cm of birefringence is

incurred for every 5 psi of stress (assuming that K s =
3 × 10−12 /Pa).

Stress optic coefficient

Material
(10−12 /Pa) at 589.3 nm and 21 ◦ C
N-BK7 2.77
F2 2.81
SF6 0.65
N-K5 3.03
N-SK11 2.45
Borofloat 4.00
borosilicate
CaF2 −1.53 @ 546 nm ( q 1 − q 2 )
Fused silica 3.40
Zerodur® 3.00
ZnSe −1.60

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

22 Precision Positioning

Kinematic Constraint

A rigid body has six degrees

of freedom: translation in X ,
Y , Z , and rotation in X , Y , Z .
Some bodies are insensitive to a
given degree of freedom because
of their geometry; a sphere,
for example, is insensitive to
rotation in all axes, so it only
has three translational degrees of freedom. When the
number of degrees of freedom of an object is reduced
by mechanically connecting it to another surface, a
constraint has been placed on the object. Rigid
constraints are stiff and do not move; they provide the
reaction force necessary to maintain the position of a
component. A preload force is an applied, constant force
that ensures a contact is in compression, but it is not a
constraint alone.

The principle of kinematic design is to constrain

all of the degrees of freedom of a rigid body without
overconstraint, a state in which more than one
constraint is placed on a particular degree of freedom.
Overconstraint typically reduces performance in a system
(due to binding and distortions) and can increase
cost due to requiring tight tolerances. Conversely, an
underconstrained system allows unwanted motion and
“play” in the parts. A properly constrained kinematic
design can provide high stability as well as the ability to
separate components and accurately rejoin them.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Precision Positioning 23

Example Constraints and Degrees of Freedom

Optical elements in a system must be mounted in a

repeatable manner and without distorting the element.
A kinematic mount uses ball bearings to provide the
necessary motion constraints for a mounted element
and the ability to insert and remove the elements as
needed. Since point contacts are well defined, submicron
repeatability is possible depending on the surface finish,
load, and friction.
The ball bearings can be held kinematically in a variety of
ways, depending on what degrees of freedom need to be
constrained:
• Ball in seat (three planes, three balls): Constrains
all three translational degrees of freedom.

• Ball in V-groove: Constrains two

translational degrees of freedom.
The optimum contact angle of the
groove is 60 deg.

• Ball on two rods: Constrains two

translational degrees of freedom.

• Ball on flat surface: Constrains

one translational degree of freedom.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

24 Precision Positioning

Semi-Kinematic Design

Semi-kinematic design uses the same geometry and

ideas as kinematic design but allows slight overconstraint
to occur. Point contacts are replaced with small-area
contacts to reduce stresses that occur in a purely
kinematic design. Additional support points may be added
to a purely kinematic design to create a semi-kinematic
design, in which case a group of supports may act as a
single kinematic constraint.

A practical implementation of this concept is a

ball in a cone. This design constrains all three
translational degrees of freedom, but it is semi-
kinematic because the interface is a line contact
rather than a point contact.
Two common kinematic mount systems are illustrated
below: a flat, groove, and seat (top), and three grooves
(bottom). A flat, groove, and cone configuration is a
common semi-kinematic design used for mounts.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Precision Positioning 25

Issues with Point Contacts

Kinematic design assumes infinitely rigid bodies and

point contacts between parts. There is low stiffness
at a point contact because a small amount of force can
cause displacement of the mount. A preload force in the
direction normal to the interface
is required for stability. The stiff-
ness k, displacement u, and con-
tact radius a of a ball contacting
a flat surface due to a force F can
be found using the equations be-
low:

à !1/3
F 2 E 2e
u = 0. 8
R

a = 0.9(FRE e )1/3
µ ¶
dF ∼ RF 1/3
k= = 1.875
du E 2e

1 − ν21 1 − ν22
Ee = +
E1 E2

High stress can occur at a point contact due to the preload

force (normal to the surface) as well as friction (tangential
to the surface), which may cause damage to the materials.
Lubrication can decrease the stress due to friction. The
maximum compressive stress occurs at the center of the
point contact and is given by

F
(σ c )max = 1.5
π a2

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

26 Precision Positioning

Issues with Point Contacts (cont.)

A cylinder with radius R , applying force F over length

L, creates a line contact rather than a point contact. The
contact width b and maximum compressive stress can be
found by

µ ¶1/2 µ ¶
F F /L 1/2
b = 2.3 RE e (σ c )max = 0.6
L RE e

For both spheres and cylinders, the maximum shear stress

is approximately one-third of the maximum compressive
stress or yield stress:

(σ c )max
τmax ∼
=
3

For two convex spheres or cylinders with radii R1 and R2 ,

use the equivalent radius:

1 1 1
= +
R R1 R2

Repeatability is also a concern with point contacts and

is a function of geometry. The nonrepeatability per ball or
plane interface is given by the following:

µ ¶1/3 µ ¶ µ = friction coefficient

2 F 2/3
ρ≈µ R = ball radius
3R E
E = Young’s modulus

Friction coefficients vary greatly with system conditions

(presence of lubrication, type of lubrication, etc.). Steel on
steel has µ ≈ 0.8 when it is dry/clean and µ ≈ 0.16 when
lubricated. Aluminum on aluminum has µ ≈ 1.25 when
dry/clean and µ ≈ 0.3 when lubricated.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Precision Positioning 27

Precision Motion

When multiple precise motions need to made in a

system, stages are typically the solution. Stages can be
classified as linear, rotational, tilt, or multi-axis. Any type
of stage will have a few elements in common:
• System of constraints: Allows motion in the desired
degree of freedom but constrains other degrees.
• Actuator: Drives the stage motion, either electrically
or manually.
• Encoder: Measures stage motion; the actuator may
sometimes serve as the encoder.
• Lock (optional): Maintains the stage position.

When choosing a stage for a specific application, some

general factors that should be taken into account include:
• repeatability • stiffness
• resolution • stability
• cost • velocity of motion
• errors in motion • overtravel protection
• load capacity • environmental sensitivity
• travel range • locking mechanisms
• encoding accuracy

For a study on the cost and performance tradeoffs for

manual linear stages, see page 122 in the appendix.

Specifications for stages are found using various

methods. The actual achievable resolution, repeatability,
etc., may be very different depending on the user’s
specific application and operating conditions. Be cautious
of claims that seem too good to be true.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

28 Precision Positioning

Stage Terminology

For stage motion, precision, also called repeatability,

refers to how often a stage returns to the same position
after repeated attempts. Accuracy, also called position
error, refers to how closely the stage moves to a desired
location. In general, precision can be achieved without
accuracy, but the reverse is not true.

Resolution is the size

of the smallest de-
tectable incremental mo-
tion a stage can make.
The more friction that
occurs in the bearings,
the lower the resolu-
tion produced. It is typically defined by the limit of the
encoder precision. The sensitivity of a stage is the mini-
mum input capable of producing an output. It is often (in-
correctly) used to indicate resolution.
Travel range is defined as the length of travel that
a stage can provide, typically established by hard stops
that mechanically limit motion at each end. Overtravel
protection is a feature sometimes used on stages that
are controlled electronically, thus avoiding any accidental
component collisions.
Angular deviation defines the maximum amount of
angular motion that occurs from true linear over the entire
travel range of a stage. It is defined in terms of pitch
(angular deviation in x), yaw (angular deviation in y), and
roll (angular deviation in z).
The load capacity of a stage defines the amount of
static load that can be held by a stage without adversely
affecting the stage motion and resolution. Typically, the
load capacity is defined for loads in both the vertical
and horizontal direction. To achieve the maximum load
capacity tolerated, the load is centered and normal to the
stage surface. Overloading a stage can cause damage to
the bearings.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Precision Positioning 29

Linear Stages

Linear stages provide travel in X , Y , Z , or any

combination thereof.
Dovetail stages are the simplest
type, consisting of two flat surfaces
sliding against each other. This
geometry provides high stability,
long travel, and large load capacities. Due to the amount
of friction, very precise control is difficult.
Ball-bearing stages are the most common
type, consisting of a single or double row
of ball bearings guided by V-grooves or
hardened rods. These stages have very
low friction and moderate load capacity
(depending on the exact ball-bearing
geometry used). The gothic-arch-style ball bearing has
increased contact area over a conventional ball bearing.
Crossed-roller bearings have the
same advantages as ball-bearing stages
but with higher stiffness and load
capacities. These stages replace ball
bearings with orthogonally alternating
cylindrical rollers, providing a line contact instead of a
point contact.
Flexure stages stages pro-
vide very high precision
motions but typically have
a small travel range. These
stages use the deformation
of a high-yield-strength ma-
terial to provide motion.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

30 Precision Positioning

Rotation and Tilt Stages

Rotation stages provide radial motion for a component.

The major sources of error for a rotational stage are:
• concentricity (eccentricity)
• wobble
• axial runout
Concentricity or eccentricity is the deviation of the
center of rotation of the stage as it rotates (i.e., the stage is
not perfectly centered). Wobble is the amount of angular
deviation of the axis of rotation that occurs during one
revolution. Axial runout is
the amount of axial motion
that occurs during one revo-
lution. A dial indicator can be
used to measure each of these
errors as the stage is rotated.
Tilt stages provide angular adjustment in X , Y , Z , or any
combination thereof. They are often referred to as tip/tilt
stages.
A goniometer is a unique tilt
stage that has its center of rota-
tion above the stage. The advan-
tage of goniometers is that the mo-
tion is purely rotational, whereas
traditional tip/tilt stages incur a
small translation when adjusted.

A ball-and-socket stage provides

360-deg tilt in the horizontal and
up to ±90-deg tilt from vertical, de-
pending on the specific model. This
type of stage provides coarse po-
sitioning and a simple lock/unlock
lever to manipulate the stage
position—useful for positioning de-
tectors and targets.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Precision Positioning 31

Errors in Stage Motion

Many stages combine translational, angular, and rota-

tional motion. A complicated stage that provides motion
in all six degrees of freedom is a Stewart platform, a po-
sitioner with a stage mounted on linkages, or legs, that
are free to pivot and rotate at the ends. By adjusting the
length of the legs, each freedom of motion may be adjusted
individually. This type of stage typ-
ically requires software control due
to its complexity. One common Stew-
art platform is a hexapod positioner,
which has a stage mounted on six
legs.
The main error associated with linear stages is Abbe
error (θ × h, where h is the Abbe offset), a displacement
error between the encoder and the point being measured,
which often occurs when a component is mounted on a
post. It is caused by an angular error in the bearings,
thus tilting the component. Abbe error can be reduced by
lowering the height of the component or by using a higher-
quality stage to reduce wobble.

If a stage is traveling in one direction

and then moved in the reverse direction,
the stage will not reverse immediately.
This issue is referred to as backlash
and is a mechanical error; the motion
error corresponding to the nonlineari-
ties that arise from backlash is called
hysteresis. Backlash is easily noticed with lower-quality
stages that have “play” or “slop” in the manual driver. It
can be reduced by applying a preload force so that the
driver and the stage remain in contact at all times. An
error that occurs in multi-axis stages is cross-coupling,
i.e., the desired motion is in only one axis, but due to the
non-ideal nature of a stage, a small motion will occur in
another axis.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

32 Precision Fastening and Adjustments

Standard Hardware

When assembling a system, many standard pieces of

hardware can be employed. Screws can be used as
螺钉，螺栓
fasteners and adjusters; they provide a larger range
of motion than shims and can be used for one-time
垫片
adjustments if potting epoxy or a jam nut is used. The
环氧树脂
resolution of the adjustment is limited by the thread pitch
and friction in the joint. 螺纹间距

Under the Unified Thread Standard (UTS) used in the

United States, screws are defined by (diameter in inches)
– (threads per inch) × (length in inches), e.g., 1/4 −20 × 1.
Metric screws are defined by (diameter in mm) × (mm per
thread) × (length in mm), e.g., M8 × 1 × 25.
The screw size is noted as an integer number (e.g., a #6
screw) for diameters smaller than 1/4 inch; the formula to
calculate the major diameter of a numbered screw (≥#0) is
(major diameter) = (screw #) × 0.01300 + 0.06000 .
Many other thread standards are available based on
region and application. According to the UTS, screws
are typically defined as having “coarse” or “fine” threads
that fall into certain thread classes. The coarse-thread
series, UNC, is the most commonly used series for bulk
production. The fine-thread series, UNF, is used for
precision applications.
Thread classes range from 1–3, followed by either an A
(referring to external threads) or B (referring to internal
threads).

• Classes 1A and 1B are used for quick and easy

assemblies where large amounts of clearance are
acceptable.
• Classes 2A and 2B are the most common classes of
thread.
• Classes 3A and 3B have very tight tolerances and
allow no clearance in assembly.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Precision Fastening and Adjustments 33

Example Screws
Common screw-drive types:

Common screw-head styles:

Common socket-head screws:

Tapping is the process by which threads are cut into

the inside surface of a hole. The proper-size tap must be
chosen for a fastener of a given diameter and thread pitch.
To obtain a tap drill size, use the following formula and
drop all but the first decimal:

Root diameter ≈ screw diameter − thread spacing

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

34 Precision Fastening and Adjustments

Fastener Strength

The first three threads of a screw take about three-

quarters of the entire load. The remaining quarter load
is taken by around the sixth thread. Since this is the
case, having an engagement length for the screw that is
longer than 1.5× the nominal diameter provides almost
no added strength. The actual load distribution in the
threads varies depending on a variety of factors, including
the materials used, the setup, and the size of the load.
Some special fasteners (e.g., Spiralock® ) are designed to
provide a more evenly distributed load across the first 5–6
threads for applications where the load distribution is a
concern.
Under the English system, the strength level of a fastener
is given by its grade. For the metric system, the strength
level is given by its property class. Note that similar
numbers for grade and property class do not mean similar
strengths. The strength of the threads is greater than
the strength of the fastener as long as the threads are
engaged over one diameter.

English
Tensile
Head For inch
Grade strength
marking diameters
(psi)

2 1/4 to 3/4 74,000

7/8 to 1 1/2 60,000

5 1/4 to 1 120,000

Over 1 to 1 1/2 105,000

8 1/4 to 1 1/2 150,000

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Precision Fastening and Adjustments 35

Fastener Strength (cont.)

Metric
Tensile
Property Head For metric
strength
class marking diameters
(psi)

5.6 M12–M24 72,500

8.8 M17–M36 120,350

10.9 M6–M36 150,800

Socket head cap screw markings:

When using fasteners in soft materials,

including aluminum, threaded inserts
should be used for added robustness. These
are small coils of strong metal material that
can be inserted into a tapped hole. They can
provide added strength, robustness, corrosion resistance,
and act as a repair for stripped threads. There are a large
variety of styles and types of threaded inserts as well as
varying materials and lengths. Care should be taken as to
what metals are being used for the threaded inserts and
the fastener that will come into contact with them. There
is a higher likelihood that galling will occur if the same
material is used for both components.
Galling is a form of surface damage that occurs when
solids are rubbed together. Material is transferred from
one surface to another, creating abrasive surfaces and
increasing adhesion. Galling causes concern because it
cannot be remedied once it has occurred and will usually
cause some loss of functionality in the affected part. Anti-
galling threaded inserts are available as well as special
inserts for vacuum applications (e.g., Nitronic® ).

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

36 Precision Fastening and Adjustments

Tightening Torque

Tightening torque values are calculated from the

following formula:
T = K DP

where T is the tightening torque, K is the torque-friction

coefficient, D is the nominal bolt diameter, and P is the
bolt clamp load developed by tightening.
The clamp load is also called preload or initial load. It
is calculated by assuming that the usable bolt strength is
75% of the bolt proof load multiplied by the tensile stress
area of the threaded section of each bolt size. Higher or
lower values can be used depending on the application
requirements and judgment of the designer.
Washers can serve many functions, such as protecting
a surface from the screw head, providing an even load
distribution from the screw head, providing a seal, or
acting as a shim or spring.

There is a wide variety of washers available for various

functions and geometries required by a system. Some
provide locking abilities, pressure sealing, bonding, or
vibration-damping. Others are slotted, clipped, counter-
sunk, square, or flanged. See the Torque Charts in
the appendix for suggested tightening torque values to
produce corresponding bolt clamping loads.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Precision Fastening and Adjustments 37

Adjusters

Small mechanical adjustments are often needed in the

assembly and use of optical systems. Adjusters should
be chosen to provide adequate resolution in the desired
degree of freedom while all other degrees of freedom
remain fully constrained. It is important to consider:
• the total range of the adjustment needed
• how often the adjustment must be made
• the required stability for all degrees of freedom
• the required stiffness

Oftentimes, both a coarse and fine adjustment are

required.
Common manual drivers for stages include thumb-
screws and micrometers. Micrometers provide a way to
measure the amount of motion per revolution of the driver,
whereas thumbscrews simply provide a way to move the
stage.
Push-pull screws are an adjustment mechanism in
which two screws are used to move a plate relative to a
fixed baseplate. This device controls only one degree of
freedom, but it provides a large range of motion combined
with fine resolution. The system can be made self-locking
using jam nuts or epoxy; however, this arrangement can
cause distortion and stress in the mechanical parts. Push-
pull screws are not as stable as shims and are limited
by thread pitch and friction. Off-the-shelf solutions that
provide this type of motion area are available as well, such
as Micposi.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

38 Precision Fastening and Adjustments

Differential Screws and Shims

A differential screw is an adjustment mechanism

that uses two screws with different thread pitches. The
resultant motion of the adjuster is proportional to the
difference in the two pitches, allowing for finer resolution
than a screw with a single-thread pitch.

Thread pitch refers to the

crest-to-crest spacing between
threads. If a screw is speci-
fied as having 20 threads/in,
then the distance between each
thread (the thread pitch) is
0.0500 .

If the thread pitches TP1 and TP2 are such that TP2 >
TP1 , then the resultant thread pitch (TP e f f ) of the
differential screw is:
TP e f f = TP2 − TP1

As an example, using 1/4 −20 (TP2 = 0.0500 ) and 1/4 −28 (TP1 =
0.03600 ) threads, each rotation moves the screw 0.0500 , but
the nut (traveling piece) only moves 0.01400 . The effective
pitch of 0.01400 is equivalent to 70 threads/in.
Shims are thin pieces of material used for one-time
spacing adjustments and are a very stable solution.
A variety of shim types exist for various functions.
Note that before deciding to use shims, a good way to
determine the required spacer thickness is needed. There
are also a variety of washer types that can provide small
adjustments or act as shims.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Precision Fastening and Adjustments 39

Liquid Pinning

Liquid pinning is a useful way to fix a component after

adjustment, whereby adhesive is applied in a thin layer
around a fixed pin in a hole. This procedure provides room
to adjust a component around the pin as well as a locking
mechanism; liquid pinning is a common method used for
fixing a lens cell after centration adjustments. The radial
stiffness k r of a liquid pin is given by

µ ¶
π d p L p Ea
kr = + Ga
2 ra 1 − ν2a

d p = pin diameter

L p = length (height) of adhesive bond in contact with pin

r a = average radial thickness of adhesive around the pin

An alternate format for liquid pinning involves placing a

bushing around each pin. The adhesive is then applied
to the hole and bushing rather than directly to the pin,
allowing the component to still be removed.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

40 Precision Fastening and Adjustments

Electronic Drivers

Common electronic drivers include steppers, DC servo

or brush motors, and piezoelectric actuators. Stepper
motors provide a specific number of discrete steps in
response to electrical current. Microsteppers are also
available that provide small increments of motion within a
full step. Stepper motors will remain in the same position
even when power is removed, whereas a microstepper will
move to the nearest full step if power is removed.

Servos provide high speed, resolution, and accuracy, but

low stability with time. They require constant power or
an external brake to maintain their position if power is
removed.

Piezoelectric actuators use crystals that expand

contract when voltage is applied to them. They can provide
very high-resolution motion over a limited travel range.
Piezos suffer from nonlinearities and hysteresis effects,
and require constant power to maintain position.

An open-loop-control device provides automated motion

control, but it does not measure that motion or receive
feedback about how accurately the motion was made.
These devices can provide very small motions and are
relatively inexpensive. Many piezoelectric devices and
stepper motors use open-loop control.

In a closed-loop-control system, the motion of the

stage is measured and compared to the desired input
to determine the amount of error. This feedback can
be provided using a variety of techniques, all with
various levels of accuracy. Position, velocity, and/or torque
feedback are typically required, depending on the specific
application. The system then corrects the error, providing
more accuracy than is available with open-loop-control
systems. Servo motors are often closed-loop systems.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Precision Fastening and Adjustments 41

Flexures

Flexures provide a means of precise adjustment using

the elastic deflection of materials due to an applied
force; they can provide very rigid constraints in certain
directions while still maintaining compliance in others.
Flexures have low hysteresis, low friction, and are
suitable for small rotations (<∼5 deg) and translations
(<∼2 mm). They can also provide mechanical and thermal
isolation of an optical element from its housing. Flexures
typically cannot tolerate large loads, and there must
be low residual stress in the flexure from fabrication.
Large tensile loads may be
tolerated in one direction,
based on the geometry of
the flexure. The most simple
and common type of flexure
is the single-strip or leaf,
useful for small rotations.

We define the blade length L,

Young’s modulus E , thickness
t, and width b; the moment of
inertia I = (1/12)bt3 .

The material choice for a flexure will depend on a variety

of factors, including the material’s compliance, fracture
toughness, thermal properties, corrosion resistance, and
stability over time. The greatest compliance, given the
same length flexure, is achieved by the material with the
greatest reduced tensile modulus, defined as the ratio
of the yield strength σ ys of the material to Young’s modulus
E . The higher the reduced tensile modulus is, the more
desirable the material for use as a flexure.
Flexure material E (GPa) σys /E (10−3 )
Stainless steel 17-4 193 4.39
Titanium 6AL-4V 108 7.27
Invar 36 148 4.75
Beryllium copper 115 7.14
Aluminum 6061-T6 68 3.85

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

42 Precision Fastening and Adjustments

Stiffness Relations for Single-Strip Flexures

For simple loading, the stiffness relations are

Mz EI Fy 3EI F x Ebt
κθ z = = ky = = kx = =
θz L dy L3 dx L
Fy 2EI M z 3EI
= = 3
θz L2 dy L
where κ is used for the bending stiffness. The maximum
stress in the flexure is
6M 6FL
or
bt2 bt2
The stiffness relations change in the presence of a tensile
(T) or compressive (C) force F x , which is positive for T and
negative for C:

 EI Ã !
 ω coth ω (T)
Mz  L ∼ EI F x L2
κθz = = = 1+
θz  EI L 3EI
 ω cot ω (C)
L
 Fx ω

 (T) Ã !
Fy 
L [ω − tanh(ω)] 3EI 2 F x L2
ky = = ∼
= 3 1+
dy   Fx ω L 5 EI
 (C)
L [tan(ω) − ω]
s
F x L2
ω= Critical buckling limit is ω = π/2.
EI

As a rule of thumb, limit the compressive force to 20% of

critical.

For small deflections, consider the end motion as a rotation

around a virtual pivot at distance s from the end:
dy 2
s= ≈ L
tan θ z 3

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Precision Fastening and Adjustments 43

Parallel Leaf Strip Flexures

Two parallel leaf strips can be used for small

translational motions in a rectilinear or parallel spring
guide. The stiffness relations for simple loading are
Ebtd 2
Mz
κθ z = = µ ¶3
θz 2L Fy 24EI t
ky = = = 2Eb
F x 2Ebt dy L3 L
kx = =
dx L

The motion due to the bending of the blades is not purely

parallel; the resulting axial motion is
2 d y2
dx = −
3 L
The part will rotate if the flexures have different length ∆L
or if the flexures are not parallel, with separation varying
by ∆d over the length:
∆L d y2
Flexures differ in length: θ =
2L d
∆d d y
Flexures not parallel: θ =
L d

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

44 Precision Fastening and Adjustments

Stiffness Relations for Parallel Leaf Strip Flexures

The stiffness relations change in the presence of a

tensile (T) or compressive (C) force F x , which is positive
for T and negative for C:

F 1
 x³

 ´ (T) Ã !
 L tanh
Fy  1− γ γ 2 Ebt 3 3 F x L 2
ky = = F ∼
= 1+ ,
δy  x 1 L3 5 Ebt3


 ³ ´ (C)
 L tan γ − 1
γ
s
F x L2
γ=
8EI

Cross-strip pivots allow rotation with two or more flat

strips that attach between a fixed base and a moving
platform. These are commercially available and are useful
for applications that require larger angular deflections.

For small deflections, the axis of rotation is located at the

intersection of the blades. The stiffness of the two-blade
system under simple loading is given by
Mz 2EI
κθz = =
θ L
The stiffness is increased proportionally with additional
blades; a three-blade design is common.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Precision Fastening and Adjustments 45

Notch Hinge Flexures

The notch hinge is also a common geometry for flexures.

These provide added stiffness over a leaf hinge and have
a better-defined center of rotation. Examples include the
leaf, circular/elliptical, and toroidal hinge.

2a

b
b
Leaf Circular/elliptical

Toroidal
The bending stiffness κθ = ( M z /θ z ), axial stiffness k x =
(F x /δ x ), and maximum bending stress σ y are given below,
assuming t ¿ a.

Leaf Circular Toroidal

5 7
Ebt3 2Ebt /2 Et /2
κθ
24a 1
9πa /2
1
20a /2
µr ¶−1 3
Ebt Eb3 a 1 Et /2
kx −
2a 12πa2 t 4 1
2a /2
6M 6M 30 M
σy
bt2 bt2 t3

Hinge flexures are frequently used to control the line of

action for a support member. If properly designed, the line
of action of the force will go through the center of the
hinges.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

46 Precision Fastening and Adjustments

Adhesives

Adhesives are useful for mounting and bonding optical

and mechanical components; compared to glass and metal,
they typically have high Poisson ratios, low stiffness,
and much higher CTE values. Using an adhesive is
a relatively quick, simple, and inexpensive mounting
solution commonly used in optomechanics.

• Adhesion is the bonding of two dissimilar materials

to each other (in this case, an adhesive to a substrate).
The adhesive strength is limited by the preparation
of the surface and is improved with the use of a
primer.
• Cohesion is the force of attraction between similar
molecules that determines the internal strength of a
material. The cohesive strength is the fundamental
limit of the strength of the adhesive material.

With static loading, most adhesives will creep, which

mitigates slowly varying stresses in the bond (e.g., those
due to temperature changes).
Optical adhesives are used to cement optical compo-
nents together (e.g., doublets and achromats). The optical
qualities of the adhesive are important: the adhesive must
be transparent in the appropriate wavelength. Struc-
tural adhesives are used for the mechanical parts of a
system; it is important that they have high strength and
high stiffness. Elastomers are rubbery adhesives used for
sealing, providing compliance, and providing athermaliza-
tion between metals and/or glasses.
Cyanoacrylates (i.e., superglue) are used for thread
locking and have high strength, good adhesion to metal,
and rapid cure times; however, they have a high potential
to ruin optical coatings due to their high outgassing—
they are not recommended for use in the vicinity of coated
optics.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Precision Fastening and Adjustments 47

Adhesive Properties

Issues to keep in mind when using adhesives:

• Surface preparation and cleanliness are critical.
• Curing can be accelerated with a higher temperature,
which usually increases bond stress.
• Adhesives have limited shelf lives.
• Two-part adhesives are sensitive to mixing ratios.
• If the bond is critical, it is important to test to failure.
• Recommended safety factor is >3.
Important adhesive properties to consider when
choosing an adhesive include strength, stability, stiffness,
thermal issues, outgassing, cure time, viscosity, shrinkage
during curing, and ease of assembly and disassembly.
Outgassing is the process by which adhesives release
materials in gaseous form. These released molecules
can then condense and contaminate optical surfaces
and coatings. This process is most severe in a vacuum
or at elevated temperatures, but adhesives can also
outgas at room temperature. Outgassing is quantified
by percent total mass lost (%TML) and percent
collected volatile condensable material (%CVCM).
NASA provides requirements for these values of <1% TML
and <0.1% CVCM for space applications, which should
be followed for optical applications. NASA also maintains
a very useful database of the outgassing properties of
adhesives and other material (see Ref. 3).
In many designs, the stiffness k of the adhesive is
an important design parameter. Stiffness is defined as
the amount of force required to create a unit deflection
depending on the geometry and modulus of the material
used. Using the correct modulus value is important for
proper analysis of adhesive behavior. Typically, stiffness
is defined by
EA
k=
t
Compliance c is the inverse of stiffness ( c = 1/k) and is
used to describe how much “give” a material has.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

48 Precision Fastening and Adjustments

Adhesive Thickness and Shape Factor

When the thickness of the adhesive is very small compared

to the area of the bond, the bulk modulus K is used in place
of Young’s modulus. For shear stiffness, the shear modulus
G is used in place of Young’s modulus.

KA GA
k= k shear =
t t
There is a transition area be-
tween using Young’s modulus
versus the bulk modulus. When
using a bond that is neither ex-
plicitly “thick” nor “thin” com-
pared to the area of the bond, a
general axial stiffness can be de-
termined by using the effective
modulus E c :
³ ´
E c = E 1 + 2ϕS 2

where ϕ is the material compres-

sion coefficient (∼0.6 for RTV),
and S is the shape factor.
The shape factor applies the effect of the geometry to the
compression modulus and is defined as the ratio of the load
area to the bulge area:
AL
S=
AB
where A L is the load area, and A B is the bulge area. As an
example, for a rectangular bond, the shape factor is:
(l ength)(width)
S rect =
2 t (l ength + width)

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Precision Fastening and Adjustments 49

Thermal Stress

The thermal expansion of an adhesive is typically much

higher than the substrates it is bonding. The effect due to
the large expansion of the adhesive is mitigated by its high
compliance, so the substrate expansion dominates. This is
not true for very low temperatures where the modulus
of the adhesive will increase by orders of magnitude.
The maximum shear stress τmax experienced by the
adhesive will occur at the farthest point from center and
is quantified by
∆TG (α1 − α2 )
τmax =
½ · Bt ¸ · ¸¾
1 1 − ν1 I 0 (Br ) 1 1 − ν2 I 0 (Br )
× − + −
1 + ν1 Br I 1 (Br ) 1 + ν2 Br I 1 (Br )
· µ ¶¸ 1
G 1 1 2
B= +
t E 1 h1 E 2 h2
where G is the shear modulus of the adhesive, α1 and α2
are the coefficients of thermal expansion of the bonded
materials, t is the bond thickness, E 1 and E 2 are the
Young’s modulus values of the bonded materials, h1 and
h 2 are the height/thicknesses of the bonded materials, and
r is the maximum bond dimension from the center to the
edge (radius).

This equation assumes flat, circular plates where the bond

covers the entire area between the two substrates. The
bending of the substrates is included in the equation. For
small bonds (with a maximum dimension less than a few
mm), this can be estimated by:
Gr
τmax = (α1 − α2 ) ∆T
t

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

50 Precision Fastening and Adjustments

Choice of Bond Size and Thickness

When bonding materials, one large bond or multiple

small bonds may be used. Using multiple small bonds
reduces induced distortions and minimizes thermal
effects, but will provide less stiffness and increase stress in
the adhesive. The minimum area of the bond can be found
by
A min = ( ma g f s )/ J
where m is the mass of the optic, a g is the worst-case
expected acceleration factor (in g’s), f s is the safety factor
(2–5 is recommended), and J is the shear strength of
adhesive. This equation may also be used to determine
the maximum acceleration a bond of a given size can
withstand. The bond should have even thickness over
the entire area to prevent imparting a moment and
causing distortion of the bonded elements. To maintain
correct spacing for an adhesive thickness, spacers, wires,
or shims of the desired thickness can be placed evenly on
the bonding surface. Another approach involves mixing
small glass beads having diameters equal to the desired
thickness into the adhesive before bonding.
For cemented doublets, the thickness of the adhesive
is typically around 8–12 µm, depending on a variety of
factors, including the f /# of the optics, adhesive properties,
and the specific application. A typical procedure for
cementing optical elements has the following steps:
1. Thoroughly clean the surfaces to be bonded and
check for dust (using interference fringes).
2. Raise the upper element enough to place the
determined amount of adhesive onto the exposed
lower element.
3. Set the upper element on the adhesive and slowly
move in all lateral directions.
4. Ensure precise alignment using a jig (often three-
point equispaced contacts on each element).
5. Verify the thickness of the bond around the entire
area to ensure uniformity. This can be done by
measuring the edge thickness around the rim after
cementing.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Mounting of Optical Components 51

Lens Mounts: Off the Shelf

The accuracy in mounting a lens is limited by the

tolerancing of a number of lens parameters. These include
but are not limited to:
• outer diameter
• center thickness
• sag
• optical and mechanical axis
• wedge
• edge flat

A variety of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) lens

mounts are available for optical systems. Off-the-shelf
mounts have the advantage of shorter lead times and
lower cost than a custom design. Changing the lens held
by a COTS mount is quick and simple, and most mounts
can be used for a variety of lenses.
When choosing a mount, note
that shorter-focal-length lenses
will be more susceptible to cen-
tration errors.
A cell and threaded retain-
ing ring is a common way to
mount lenses with high stability. Some of these mounts
include two-axis adjusters for centration control. However,
there is no tilt adjustment, and because the retaining ring
is a specific size, only lenses with that particular diameter
can be held by the mount.

A cell and set screw is a simple, low-

cost, and low-precision edge mounting device.
This mount has low stability, and it poorly
controls centration and tilt. The set screw
should contact the lens edge at its center
to avoid imparting a moment in the glass.
Nylon-tipped set screws are typically used
with this configuration to avoid stressing the optic.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

52 Mounting of Optical Components

Lens Mounts: Off the Shelf (cont.)

A snap ring (or retaining ring) provides another simple,

low-cost, low-precision mounting method.
In this mount, a ring is
“snapped” into a groove made
in the cell holding the lens.
Either clearance must be al-
lowed or else the cell should
be heated and the ring cooled
for easy assembly.
The V-groove clamp mounts are
low-cost and low-precision pieces but
are able to accommodate a large range
of lens diameters. The lens sits in a
V-base, and a clamp holds the lens
down from the top. No tilt adjustments
are available, and the centration must
come from adjustments to the height of
the support post.
An adjustable-diameter mount
has three lateral supports equally
spaced around the diameter of
the lens. Each support can be
adjusted individually, allowing
for different diameters to be
mounted with the ability to cen-
ter the lens. Good centration is
difficult with this mount, and no
tilt adjustments are available.
The three-pronged lens mount
will self-center lenses with a spring-
loaded clamp of three prongs. Be-
cause of the automatic centration
capabilities, this mount is slightly
more expensive than other off-the-
shelf mounts. Tilt errors are also typ-
ically present.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Mounting of Optical Components 53

Lens Mounting: Custom

In general, the two main approaches to custom mounting

an optical component are clamping and bonding.
Pros and cons of bonding:
• One-time assembly, difficult to take apart
• Stiff in normal direction, compliant in shear
• Allows for adjustment before curing
• Possibility of outgassing that can affect coatings
• Large CTEs can cause stresses over temperature
• Provides some compliance, reduces stress from shock
loading
• Requires careful surface preparation and may require
special jigs and procedures

Pros and cons of clamping:

• Allows for disassembly
• Can easily separate constraint and preload force
• Can cause large stresses and affect survival
• Can cause distortions
• Can be designed for thermal expansion

Placing a lens in a cell and securing it in place with a

threaded retaining ring is a common clamping method
for holding lenses with good stability.

As little force as possible should be imparted on the lens.

The retaining ring and cell should contact the lens at
the same diameter to avoid imparting a moment on the
lens. Class-1 (or possibly 2) threads should be used on the
retaining ring to maintain a loose thread fit. An O-ring can
be placed in the retainer to reduce stress on the lens.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

54 Mounting of Optical Components

Calculating Torque and Clearance

By holding the lens in place with an axial preload, like

that imparted by a retaining ring, the mount can help
the system survive certain acceleration levels. The preload
needed for a given acceleration can be estimated as P =
ma g , where a g is the acceleration factor (times gravity).

The preload torque for the retaining ring is given by

P = Q / [D T (0.577µ M + 0.5µG )]
where µ M and µG are the coefficients of sliding for metal-
to-metal and glass-to-metal, respectively, Q is the applied
torque, and D T is the thread pitch diameter.
Black anodized aluminum has µ M of about 0.19, whereas
anodized aluminum against polished glass gives a µG
value of about 0.15. Friction-coefficient values can vary
greatly depending on the specific system conditions.
For common metal and glass types, this equation is
approximately P = (5Q )/(D T ).
Typically, the glass has a lower coefficient of thermal
expansion than the metal mount, so clearance should
be included between the cell wall to account for thermal
changes. An estimate of the amount of required clearance
is as follows:
clearance = (1/2)(∆T )(D )(α c − α g )
where D is the lens diameter, and α c and α g are the cell
and glass CTE, respectively.

A negative clearance indicates an interference, which

produces stress in both the lens and the cell (see the
page on Determining Thermally Induced Stress for an
example). For large temperature increases, the preload is
reduced due to the expansion of the metal away from the
glass, possibly allowing the optic to shift.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Mounting of Optical Components 55

Potting a Lens with Adhesive

Using an elastomeric adhesive for potting a lens in

its holder is a simple mounting technique that allows for
looser edge tolerances on lenses and mounts; elastomer is
inserted between the lens edge and the retainer to hold the
optic in place. UV-curing compounds are especially quick
for assembly. The elastomer is typically injected with a
syringe into injection holes in the mount. The lens should
be centered before injection and kept centered with a jig
during curing.
Care should be taken in
choosing the adhesive to
avoid those that outgas and
haze surfaces. Elastomeric
mounting makes it difficult to disassemble a system at a
later point in time if adjustments need to be made. If the
elastomer layer is thick enough, the lens will essentially be
athermalized in the radial direction (the epoxy will deform
to compensate for changes in material length). To calculate
the bond thickness for an athermalized bonded mount, the
Bayar equation can be used, which is a simple equation
that considers only the radial thermal expansion.
d l (α m − α l )
h=
2(αa − βm )
It assumes that αa > αm > αl (where the subscripts
represent the adhesive, mount, and lens, respectively) and
that there is no axial or tangential strain in the adhesive.
This equation is generally not the most accurate for a
continuous bond around the circumference of an optic. It
can serve as an approximation, however, for the upper
limit of the bond thickness in a system with multiple bond
segments around the circumference. The van Bezooijen
or Muench equation provides improved accuracy by
allowing the adhesive to expand in the tangential and
axial directions. The lower limit for an athermal bond is
continuous around the optic circumference:
dl (α m − α l )
h= ¡ ¢
2 αa − αm + 2ν αa − αl −αm
1−ν 2

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

56 Mounting of Optical Components

Clamped Flange Mount

Another method of holding lenses (as well as mirrors and

windows) involves a flange retainer that is clamped
against the optical component. This setup is especially
useful for lenses with apertures large enough that a
retaining ring would prove difficult to manufacture. The
preload of a flange is more easily calculated and calibrated
than a retaining ring. By threading the outside of the
cell, a threaded cap can be used in place of screws for the
clamping force to be continuous around the mount rather
than in discrete places.

Stray light is a term that refers to any unwanted light

that propagates through an optical system. Stray light
can cause a variety of issues, including loss of image
contrast and multiple images. For applications where
it is important to minimize these effects, the edges of
lenses are often blackened. Typically, a black epoxy ink
is used, although COTS lenses are available that are edge
blackened.
Another method of reducing stray light involves using
baffles or baffle threading. Baffles are a series of vanes,
flanges, or sharp edges that force light outside the field of
view of the system to undergo multiple reflections, thereby
blocking or reducing the amount of stray light that reaches
the image plane. Simple coarse threading on the inside of
a metal spacer or barrel can sometimes provide sufficient
baffling for a system.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Mounting of Optical Components 57

Lens Barrel Assemblies

The most common assembly method when mounting

multiple lenses involves inserting them into a metal
barrel. Assembling a system in a barrel provides
protection from the environment and simplifies the system
alignment. A number of factors can be considered when
choosing a barrel material; favorable materials have low
CTE and density (reduces weight), high stiffness, are
corrosion resistant, easily machined, and can be blackened
(to reduce stray light). Aluminum is the most common
barrel material due to its low cost and ease of machining.
Stainless steel is also popular because it has a low CTE
and high stiffness. The lens system is often assembled
with the barrel vertical by using a vacuum tool to pick up
the lenses outside of their clear aperture and lower them
into the barrel.

• The barrel is often given a 25–50-µm larger diameter

than the lens outer diameter to provide room for
loading the optics without jamming.
• Relief grooves or vent holes should be created in the
barrel to relieve pressure when inserting elements
into the barrel.
• The retaining rings and spacers should contact the
lenses at the same diameter that the seats do; this
avoids imparting a moment in the lens, causing
distortion.
• The axial location of the lenses should not be
determined by the retaining rings. Tightly fitted rings
can cause stress in the lenses due to wedge error.
To avoid this problem, either the fit of the retaining
rings should be loose or some compliance should be
provided (i.e., an O-ring). The lens position should
be defined by machined seats in the barrel or by
precision spacers.

After the system is assembled, it should be sealed to

prevent dust, water, or other contaminants from entering
the barrel. O-rings, adhesives, or internal pressurization
in the barrel with dry gas are common sealing methods.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

58 Mounting of Optical Components

Lens Barrel Assembly Types

There are a number of ways to approach barrel mount

designs, depending on system requirements; the most
common barrel designs are shown below and on the next
page in order of increasing accuracy and complexity.
In a straight-barrel design, all lenses are the same
diameter and are separated by spacers. The assembly is
typically held secure by a threaded retaining ring at the
end.
• Simple, low-cost, easy assembly
• Precision limited mainly by the precision of the
elements

Common-bore-diameter
barrel: uses spacers
to maintain element
spacing.

A stepped-barrel design can accommodate lenses of

varying sizes and uses spacers and/or machined seats
to hold the lenses at the proper separation. If the seats are
machined into the barrel, tight tolerances are required on
the wedge of each lens.
• More complex machining required than a straight
barrel, easy assembly
• Precision limited by the machining: 50 µm is common,
10 µm is possible

Stepped-diameter barrel:
uses machined seats to
place lenses.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Mounting of Optical Components 59

Lens Barrel Assembly Types (cont.)

Spacing adjustments can be included for additional

precision. One method adds shims to adjust for measured
errors. Another method enters as-built data into a
lens-design program and then machines the spacers to
compensate for errors and optimize performance.
• Labor intensive
• Can achieve 25 µm easily, 5 µm is possible

Sometimes a lateral adjustment is included for one or

more of the lenses in the barrel, providing the ability to
decenter the lens during assembly to compensate for a
specific aberration. The best element for this adjustment is
usually determined by sensitivity analysis in a lens-design
program.
• Labor intensive
• Can achieve 10 µm easily, 1 µm is possible

In subcell mounting, individual lenses are centered in

their own subcell and fixed with adhesive. The subcells
are then press (interference) fitted into a parent barrel,
wherein centering is achieved by the tolerancing and form
of the metal cells rather than the lenses.
Because it is easier to control the
form of machined metal compo-
nents than of polished optical el-
ements, this process greatly im-
proves the centering accuracy
more than is traditionally pos-
sible. Subcell mounting has a
higher cost for components and
is more complex, but it is eco-
nomical for assembly and for
fulfilling difficult requirements;
thus, it is commonly used in
high-performance systems.
• Very labor intensive and expensive
• Can achieve 10 µm easily, < 1 µm is possible

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60 Mounting of Optical Components

Surface–Contact Interfaces

There are a few different ways the edges of a glass optic

can interface with its mount.
A sharp-corner contact occurs when the glass sits on
the corner of the mechanical mount. This contact
provides the highest ac-
curacy and is the easi-
est to fabricate and toler-
ance. However, a sharp cor-
ner can create high local
stresses in the glass.
In practice, a true sharp
corner is rarely produced. Typically, it will have a small
radius. If the retainer has a specific controlled radius in
the design, it is called a toroidal contact. This type
of contact can be used for convex or concave surfaces
and is seen in many high-quality assemblies due to the
reduced compressive stress from the sharp-corner contact.
The maximum compressive axial stress σa a lens will
experience due to a preload force F on a retainer with
radius R can be estimated by
s
F E
σa = 0.4
2π y R
where y is the height at which the retainer contacts the
lens, and R is the radius of curvature of the retainer edge,
typically ∼0.05 mm.

This estimation assumes that the Young’s modulus values

of the glass and metal are similar (∆E <∼ 25 GPa).

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Mounting of Optical Components 61

Surface–Contact Interfaces (cont.)

A tangential contact occurs when the mechanical mount

contacts tangentially to the glass. This contact has
relatively low stress and can be fabricated fairly easily.
It cannot be used with concave surfaces; however, a flat
can put on the edge of the glass to provide a seat for the
retainer.
 1
2
F
 2π yd l 
σa = 0.798 
 µ 1−ν2 ¶ ³

´
1−νr2
l
E + Er
l

Conical mount contacts tangentially to glass.

A spherical contact occurs when the mechanical mount

and glass have the same radius. This contact has the
lowest stress but is very difficult to fabricate and tolerance
and thus is the most expensive option.

Mount and glass have same radius of curvature.

When a compressive contact stress occurs at an interface,

a tensile stress also occurs as a result. Experience and
data show that when a retaining ring is pressed against
a lens, the tensile stress field is so small that performance
is not affected.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

62 Mounting of Optical Components

Prism Types

Prisms are versatile optical components that can serve

a variety of purposes in an imaging system. They are
most commonly used to bend light at specific angles, fold
an optical system to make it more compact, alter image
orientation, or displace an image, among other functions.
Prisms that have entrance faces that are tilted relative
to the incoming beam should only be used in collimated
light. Flat entrance surfaces can be used for collimated,
converging, or diverging light.
A roof is often added to prisms to provide an additional
90- or 180-deg deviation in a given axis. The roof is
insensitive to rotation in that axis and causes 2θ rotation
in each of the other two axes.
A rhomboid prism is a direct-vision prism. It displaces
incoming light without rotation or deviation. It is
insensitive to rotation in all axes and is commonly used
as a periscope or to create a binocular image. A binocular
image requires two rhomboid prisms with a right angle
(RA) prism cemented to one and a block of glass (B) used
to create equal path lengths.

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Mounting of Optical Components 63

Prism Types (cont.)

A right-angle prism, penta prism, and Amici roof

prism all provide a 90-deg beam deviation. The penta
prism has the special property of being insensitive to pitch,
which means that in the plane of reflection, there is a
constant deviation regardless of the incidence angle of the
light. Thus, the penta prism is useful for systems such
as optical range finders and for surface testing for large
mirrors.

A Porro prism provides 180-deg

deviation and is also insensitive to
pitch. A cube corner prism is a
corner cut from a glass cube, forming
a tetrahedron. Light entering the
cube corner is reflected in a direction
anti-parallel to the incoming ray,
regardless of the prism orientation.
This feature has a wide range of
applications such as interferometry, transmitter/receiver
systems, and arrays for commercial retroreflectors. A
mirror version is also commonly used (a hollow cube
corner) and has the advantage of reduced weight and a
larger wavelength range than the refractive version.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

64 Mounting of Optical Components

Image-Rotation Prisms

When a Dove prism is rotated by an amount θ

around the optical axis, the image will be rotated
by 2θ. A double Dove prism can be formed by
attaching two Dove prisms at their hypotenuse faces. This
arrangement can be used to
scan the LOS of a system with
collimated light over 180 deg.
Multiple double Dove prisms
can be cemented together to
form an array.

An Abbe rotation prism

can be folded to form a
reversion or K prism.

A Pechan prism is very

compact and expensive. It
can accommodate a wide field of view and can be used in
converging, diverging, or collimated beams.

A Schmidt prism is a compact image rotator that has a

90-deg roof. It is commonly employed as an image-erecting
system in telescopes.

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Mounting of Optical Components 65

Image-Erection Prisms
The following prisms are commonly
found in binoculars and telescopes
to erect inverted images. The pre-
vious two prisms are often
combined into a system called a
Pechan–Schmidt prism or Pechan
–Schmidt roof.

When two Porro prisms are oriented

at 90 deg to each other, they create
a Porro prism pair or Porro
erecting system.
Using prism matrix formalism,
a matrix can be written for each of
the prisms shown above. Incoming
light is defined as a unit vector in
x, y, and z:
x y z
 
1 0 0
0 1 0 
0 0 1
When light exits the prism, it has a new coordinate system
x0 , y0 , and z0 . By defining the new system in terms of the
original, a matrix can be formulated to describe the effect
of the prism on the incoming light orientation. See also
Mirror Matrices section.
Matrix construction of a penta prism

x 0 y0 z 0
x0 = x  
1 0 0
y0 = z 0 0 −1
z0 = y 0 1 0

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66 Mounting of Optical Components

Prism and Beamsplitter Mounting

In general, a prism mount should avoid contact with

optically active areas, including those that provide total
internal reflection. Mounting on surfaces that are at
right angles to the optically active surfaces will help
to minimize deflections. For any mounting approach,
kinematic principles of mounting should be followed (i.e.,
six points should uniquely constrain the element).
If direct contact between a prism mount and an optically
active surface is unavoidable, the flatness and coplanarity
of the surfaces are critical. The permissible irregularity for
the mounting surface can be estimated by
(W + F ) h
∂T =
SE

∂T = irregularity tolerance for mount

W = weight of prism/window

F = clamping force on prism/window (= W if not clamped)

h= prism/window thickness

S = contact area between surface and mount

A very common mounting method for

glass-to-metal interfaces is bonding.
The bonding method is simple and
quick, and often used for less rigorous
applications (see figure). For large
prisms, the prism is often bonded on
two faces. The guidelines presented
in the Adhesives section in regards
to choice of adhesive, bond size,
and thickness should be followed for
bonding prisms. It is important that excess adhesive does
not pool around the edge of the metal-to-glass interface,
as this can cause added stress and distortion on the glass
over temperature.

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Mounting of Optical Components 67

Prism and Beamsplitter Mounting (cont.)

For larger prisms or applications where

minimizing mechanically or thermally in-
duced distortions is critical, flexures may
be bonded onto the prism and then attached
to the metal. If the flexures are one axis,
they should be compliant in the direction of
the center of gravity of the prism. To reduce
stress in the bonds, the flexures may be com-
pliant in three directions.

Prisms may also be mounted using clamps

or by a preload force (i.e., spring and
locating pins).

A flat pad on a spring provides a preload with an area

contact, or a cylindrical pad can be used for a line contact.
A table and clamp is one low-cost, off-the-shelf mount
available for prisms and beamsplitters.
The component sits on a kinematic
mount table, held by gravity and
a clamping arm. The mount then
provides angular adjustment in all
three axes.
Filters typically have the easiest mounting requirements:
• Small distortions do not affect transmitted wavefront
• No need for sealing
• Position requirements not important (although some
filter coatings are sensitive to the angle of incidence
of the light)

Many off-the-shelf mounts discussed in the

Lens Mounting section can also be used
to mount filters. Additional filter mounts
include a spring-loaded holder or potting the
filter into a bezel.

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68 Mounting of Optical Components

Thin-Wedge Systems

A thin-wedge prism creates a small

angular deviation in a beam as well as
chromatic dispersion. Because the apex
angle is typically small, take sin α ≈ α, and
the deflection of the wedge is given by
δ = α ( n − 1)
A Risley wedge-prism system is a pair of identical
wedge prisms most commonly used for beam steering
applications. By independently rotating the prisms in
opposite directions, light entering normal to the prism face
can be angularly deviated anywhere within a given cone
angle. (a)

(b)

When the prism apexes are adjacent to each other (a), the
maximum angular deviation is achieved. When the prism
apexes are opposite each other (b), the system acts as a
plane parallel plate and simply shifts the beam path.
An anamorphic prism pair is a pair of wedge prisms
used to magnify light in one axis (in the plane of
refraction) while leaving the beam in
the orthogonal axis unchanged. These
prisms are often used to circularize
elliptical diode laser beams.
A focus-adjusting wedge system con-
tains a pair of identical wedge prisms that
can be laterally translated individually. The
optical path through the glass can then be
varied, allowing the system to image ob-
jects at various distances onto a fixed image
plane.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Mounting of Optical Components 69

Window Mounting

Windows are commonly used in systems where there

is need for protection or isolation from the environ-
ment while still providing a transparent path through
which light can travel. Windows are typically plane par-
allel plates that are transmissive at the required wave-
length(s). Although the tilt of a window is not often im-
portant, the distortions induced by mechanical mounts,
thermal changes, or pressure differences are critical. This
is especially important when a window is near a pupil or
stop, where it affects the transmitted wavefront the most.
Windows placed near an image should be free of defects
and dust because these can appear in the image.
Some additional issues to consider when designing and
mounting windows are:
• strength
• wedge angle
• surface figure
• if the window needs to be sealed and how
• bowing due to pressure or temperature differential
• impact and erosion resistance
• loss of strength due to surface defects

The conventional mounting method for windows is to seat

the window in a cell and secure it with a retainer. In
systems that do not have large temperature changes, the
retainer can be screwed onto the cell.

A common window mount

includes a top plate,
window, O-ring, bottom
plate/cell in which the
window sits, and second
O-ring.

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70 Mounting of Optical Components

Window Mounting (cont.)

A flexure retainer that is screwed onto the cell can be used

to provide some athermalization. One or more O-rings can
be used as a pressure seal and
to separate the glass-
to-metal contact.
A window can also be
potted into a cell using
an adhesive. A retain-
ing ring may or may not be included with a potted window.
Shims can be used to hold the window at a fixed thickness
from the cell edge and adhesive injected into small holes
along the diameter of the cell. After curing, the shims can
be removed and the resultant gaps filled with adhesive.
Alternatively, but resulting in less reliability, adhesive can
be applied to the window and cell edge before the window
is placed in the cell. Excess adhesive should be cleaned off
before curing.
Sapphire is a common window material due to its
hardness and scratch resistance. Other common materials
used for windows include fused silica, silicon, ZnS, ZnSe,
MgF2 , and CaF2 . A window is often used where there are
thermal or pressure differentials in a system. Thermal
distortions in windows are covered in the Thermal Effects
section. A simply mounted circular window with uniform
loading will experience a change in OPD when there is
pressure differential, given by
"¡ ¢#
³
−3
´ n − 1∆P 2 d 6
OPD ∼
= 8.89 · 10
E 2 h5

The minimum aspect ratio for a circular window with a

pressure differential is given by:
µ ¶1
h ∆P 2
= C SF C sp
d σS
where C SF is the safety factor, σS is the allowable stress on
the window, and C sp is the support condition. The support
condition is 0.2165 for a clamped window and 0.265 for a
simply supported one.

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Mounting of Optical Components 71

Window Mounting (cont.)

The thickness of a rectangular window can be estimated

by the following relations, which include a safety factor
of 4:
"µ ¶ #1
P 3 2
Simply supported
h≈b ¡ a ¢3
σ ys 1 + 2
b

"µ ¶ #1
P 2 2
Clamped
h≈b ¡ a ¢4
σ ys 1 + 2
b

where a = width of the window and b = length of the

window.
The fundamental frequency for a simply supported
circular window can be estimated by

" #1
³π´µ 1 ¶ gEh2 2
f n− circ = ¡ ¢
4 r2 12ρ 1 − ν2

and for a simply supported rectangular window by

³π´µ 1 ¶" #1
1 gEh2 2
f n−rect = + ¡ ¢
2 a2 b 2 12ρ 1 − ν2

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72 Mounting of Optical Components

Domes

One type of window is a dome, which is a deep shell

that may be a section of a sphere or a hemisphere.
Domes are typically used for systems that have a
wide field of view that cannot be accommodated by
a flat window. They are also advantageous for high-
pressure differentials due to their added strength over a
flat window. Hyperhemispheres are domes that reach
beyond 180 deg.

Typical mounting geometries include elastomeric mount-

ing to a flange or directly to the system, clamping and seal-
ing with an O-ring or elastomer, and brazing the optic to
the housing.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Mounting of Optical Components 73

Dome Strength

It is typically more pertinent to evaluate the strength of a

dome by calculating what stresses it will undergo than to
determine what deformations will occur. Dome stress can
be evaluated by using the Lamé pressure vessel equa-
tions:

¡ ¢
R 03 R 3i + 2 r 3 Usually, if the dome is
σm = σh = −P ³ ´
2r 3 R03 − R 3i a hyperhemisphere, as-
¡ ¢ sume that the merid-
R 03 r 3 − R 3i ional membrane stress
σr = −P ³ ´
r 3 R 03 − R 3i is twice the hoop mem-
brane stress.

When the thickness of a dome is 10% or less of the radius,

the dome can be classified as a thin dome, and simpler
equations can be used:
³r´ 1 ³ r ´µ 1
¶
σm = P σh = P − cos ϕ
h 1 + cos ϕ h 1 + cos ϕ
where h is the dome thickness (ϕ = 0 at the top of the dome
and ϕ = 90 at the base). The strength of a glass dome can
be approached in the same way as the strength of a lens
(see page on Glass Strength). The equations for thin and
thick domes can be applied to a self-weight-loaded dome as
well. Domes can fail due to elastic buckling, so the critical
pressure P cr , which causes elastic instability, should also
be calculated:
µ ¶
0. 8 E h 2
P cr = p
1 − ν2 R 0

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74 Mounting of Optical Components

Small-Mirror Mounts: Off the Shelf

For mounting small mirrors, a number of off-the-

shelf mounts are available. The attachment methods of
these mounts are suitable for lab applications, but they
are not robust enough for shipping or other dynamic
environments (unlike the driving mechanisms/adjusters).
A cell and set screw is a simple, low-cost, low-precision
edge mounting device with no kinematic adjustments. The
screw should contact the mirror edge at its center so as not
to impart a moment.
With a kinematic mirror mount, the mirror is mounted
to a plate that is preloaded against two thumb screws
mounted in opposite corners on back of the plate, allowing
angular adjustment in x and y directions. A third screw is
often attached to the mount to provide linear adjustment
for focusing. This is a low-cost, simple-to-use mount that is
available in many geometries. However, this type of mount
has low repeatability and a small adjustment range, and
adjustments are not completely independent; a slight
translation also occurs with an angular adjustment.
Gimble mounts are similar to kinematic mounts except
that the center of rotation is located at the mirror surface,
eliminating small translations that typically occur with
an angular adjustment. They also offer higher resolution,
repeatability, and stability than kinematic and flexure
mounts, but they are more expensive. Gimble mounts are
available off the shelf in a variety of geometries.
Flexure mounts are similar to kinematic mounts except
that the preloaded plate the mirror is mounted on is
pressed against thin sheets of metal that bend with the
screw adjustments. This design provides higher stability
and repeatability than kinematic mounts. Flexure mounts
are available off the shelf in a variety of geometries and
performance levels, and can handle heavier loads than
kinematic mounts. Small translations still occur with
angular adjustments.

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Mounting of Optical Components 75

Small-Mirror Mounts: Adhesives and Clamping

The most common method for mounting small mirrors

is bonding them on their back or into an edge
bezel. For small, thick mirrors, the simplest method
is to apply adhesive over the entire back of the
mirror. If it is determined that the stress in the
adhesive will be too large over temperature changes
or if the distortions in the mirror
are too large, the mirror can be
potted into an edge bezel with an
elastomer.

Other ways to reduce mount-induced distortions include:

Potting a mirror in an edge bezel at discrete locations

provides easier assembly and better performance, but the
result is not as stiff.

Supports and clamp forces pro-

vide another common and sim-
ple mounting method. The clamp
forces should act along the same
line as the supports to avoid im-
parting a moment on the mirror.

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76 Mounting of Optical Components

Small-Mirror Mounts: Tangent Flexure and Hub

Custom tangent flexure mounts can provide an

athermal mount for small mirrors. In this design, three
flexures, stiff in the tangential and axial directions, are
attached to the edge of the mirror. As the temperature
changes, the lens remains centered and free of stress—all
of the expansion takes place in the flexures.

A higher-performance implementation of this concept is

shown below: A metal ring has three long slots cut through
it, creating an inner ring and outer ring attached only by
three small flexure points. A lens can be adhered to the top
of the inner ring and remain free of stress because it will
be isolated from distortions in the outer ring.

Many solid-substrate midsize

mirrors can be hub mounted.
In this type of design, a cen-
tral stalk or hub is either ma-
chined directly into the mir-
ror or bonded to the back of
A

the mirror. The hub can then

be clamped onto for mounting
purposes.

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Mounting of Optical Components 77

Mirror Substrates

When choosing a mirror substrate, some important

factors to consider are:
• High stability: The mirror figure does not change due
to internal stresses or external changes.
• High dimensional stability with time
• High specific stiffness (E /ρ); the material is less
affected by fabrication, mounting, and use in varying
environmental conditions.
• Ability to polish the material to an acceptable level of
smoothness
• Cost and ease of fabrication

In general, the shorter the involved wavelength is,

the higher the degree of smoothness that is required.
Typically, a harder mirror can be polished better than
a softer one, but most surfaces can be polished to an
acceptable level if sufficient time is spent on them. Glasses
used for mirrors all polish about the same; however, the
same is not true for optical glass. For mirrors, glass is
always a better choice than metal in terms of ease of
polish.
Nonglass mirrors are common in IR systems and systems
that are composed of only one material to achieve
athermalization. They are also advantageous for high-
energy beam applications because of their high thermal
conductivities.
Mirror substrates are often plated with electroless
nickel (α = 13 × 10−6 /°C) or alternate proprietary platings
to prevent corrosion and wear as well as reduce scatter.
Less than 1-nm-rms finish is possible on electroless nickel.

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78 Mounting of Optical Components

Mirror Substrates (cont.)

Nonglass mirror advantages:

• Ability to mount directly to the mirror (threaded holes
can be drilled in the substrate)
• Higher thermal conductivity than glass
Nonglass mirror disadvantages:
• Dimensional instability with time
• Defects in the polish are much more noticeable than
on glass substrates
• Stress and deformations occur over temperature due
to thermal mismatch between the nickel plating and
the substrate. Equally thick plating on both sides of
the substrate can minimize deformations.
E/ρ CTE ρ λ(W/
Material Hardness ×10−6 /°C E (GPa) (g/cm3 ) mK)
(Nm/g)

Desired: High High Low High Low High

Glass substrates

Boro- 26.9 480 (Knoop) 2.8 58.6 2.23 1.14

silicate
Fused 33.1 500 (Knoop) 0.58 73 2.2 1.38
silica
7940
ULE® 30.7 460 (Knoop) 0.02 67.6 2.21 1.31
7971
Zerodur® 35.7 620 (Knoop) 0.02 90.3 2.53 1.6
(Class 0)

Nonglass substrates

Aluminum 25.4 60 (Rock- 23.6 68.2 2.7 167

6061 well B)
Beryllium 157 80 (Rock- 11.5 290 1.84 216
well B)
Copper 129 75 (Rock- 20 110 8.53 120
C260 well B)
Silicon 56.2 1150 (Knoop) 2.6 131 2.33 137
Silicon 145 2540 (Knoop) 2.4 466 3.21 146
Carbide
CVD

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Mounting of Optical Components 79

Mirror Substrate Examples

Aluminum 6061
• General notes: Low cost, difficult to achieve high
stability
• Polishing notes: Can be polished bare to 5 nm rms;
typically electroless nickel coated

Beryllium
• General notes: Very expensive due to complex
fabrication process
• Polishing notes: When bare polished, does not give
good finish and is 5–10× slower than glass; typically
electroless nickel coated

Copper C260
• General notes: Easy to machine
• Polishing notes: Very soft; without extreme effort,
expect low-quality finish.

Silicon
• General notes: Limited to small sizes
• Polishing notes: Can be polished to 1 nm rms
with chemo-mechanical polishing using a diamond
compound

Silicon Carbide CVD

• General notes: Excellent stiffness and thermal
properties, but expensive and prone to fracture
• Polishing notes: Polish with diamond compound;
finish depends on the material (there are different
compositions).

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80 Mounting of Optical Components

Large-Mirror Mounting: Lateral Supports

The diameter-to-thickness ratio (aspect ratio) for a

mirror is typically around 6 but can be acceptable from
4–20. Mirrors with an aspect ratio larger than 8–10
are defined as thin mirrors. As the aspect ratio of a
mirror increases, the complexity of the support system and
difficulty of fabrication also greatly increases.

A V-mount is a simple support

system used to hold medium- to large-
size horizontal-axis mirrors. The rim
of the mirror is supported by two
posts at 90 deg, similar to how it
would sit in a V-block. A safety clip
is typically included at the top of the
mount as a safety feature in case the
mirror is bumped. The mirror is also typically supported
by a three-point support on the back face, as discussed
below.
Other lateral supports include edge bands, roller chains,
and sling supports. For any of these configurations, the
friction between the supports and the edge of the mirror
should be as small as possible for best performance. Edge
bands are fixed above the mirror and provide a sling for
the mirror to sit in laterally.

Roller chains are similar but

provide reduced friction; they are
commercially available in many
different sizes and load capacities
at relatively low cost.
Sling supports or strap mounts
are commercial mounts that sit
the mirror’s rim in a U-shaped
metal sling and are supported by
a vertical plate. This configuration has increased friction
and is only preloaded by gravity, which limits dynamic per-
formance and shipping.

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Mounting of Optical Components 81

Large-Mirror Mounting: Point Supports

A simple mount for a vertical-axis mirror has equally

spaced point supports on the back of the mirror, lying
on a circle centered about the mirror’s axis. Depending on
the amount of self-weight deflection that can be tolerated,
three- or six-point supports are often used. Equations for
the optimal position of these supports can be found on the
Self-Weight Deflection pages.

Whiffle tree mounts (or Hindle mounts) consist of a

cascading system of kinematic supports used to support
a mirror from multiple points; they provide an even load
distribution, resulting in reduced surface deformation and
stress in the mirror. Pivoting arms or triangular plates
are individually balanced and equally spaced around the
diameter (lateral support) or back (axial support) of the
mirror. Whiffle tree mounts are a more complex, and
therefore more expensive, solution that requires more
space for the mounting structure.

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82 Mounting of Optical Components

Large-Mirror Mounting: Active Supports

Counterweight supports are weighted levers that

provide axial support at many discrete points and self-
adjust for varying mirror orientations. They provide
optimum performance for mir-
rors that will experience multiple
gravity orientations but are com-
plex and expensive. To reduce fric-
tion, flexures have replaced tradi-
tional ball bearings.
Actuators can be mounted on the back of a mirror
to provide a dynamic, rather than static, mount. Sys-
tems that actively maintain the optimal form of a mir-
ror are called active optics, whereas adaptive optics
deform the surface of a mirror to cancel aberrations
or compensate for other errors by using measurements
and feedback; both types are
Any surface error that
used for atmospheric correction
occurs on a mirror is
in telescopes, fabrication and
multiplied by a factor
assembly errors in deployable
of two in the reflected
systems, and thermal and vi-
wavefront.
bration effects.
When a mirror is mounted in any orientation, gravity
acts on it and causes deformations due to the mirror’s
weight; this is referred to as self-weight deflection, a
primary concern when mounting a mirror. The rms self-
weight deflection of a mirror mounted laterally (axis
horizontal) can be estimated by
à ! à !
³ ´ 2ρ r 2 r2 ³ sag ´
2
δHrms = a 0 + a 1 γ + a 2 γ γ= =
E 2hR thickness
where r is the half-mirror diameter, h is the mirror center
thickness, and R is the mirror radius of curvature.
Two-point support Edge band
a0 0.05466 0.073785
a1 0.2786 0.106685
a2 0.110 0.03075

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Mounting of Optical Components 83

Self-Weight Deflection: General

The rms self-weight deflection of a mirror mounted

axially (axis vertical) can be calculated by
³ ρ g ´ r4 ³ ´
δV rms = C sp 2
1 − ν2
E h
where C sp is the geometric support constraint (see below),
g is gravity (9.8 m/s2 ), and ν is the Poisson ratio.
If a mirror is tilted, the self-weight deflection in the
vertical and horizontal axes can be calculated individually
by
δθ−V = δV rms · cos θ δθ−H = δHrms · sin θ
The overall rms self-weight deflection of a mirror mounted
at an angle can be estimated by
q
δθrms = (δθ−V )2 + (δθ−H )2

Support Constraint Csp FORD*

Ring at 68% (of diameter) 0.028 11
6 points equally spaced at 68.1% 0.041 8
Edge clamped 0.187 1.5
3 points, equally spaced at 64.5% 0.316 –
3 points, equally spaced at 66.7% 0.323 ∼1
3 points, equally spaced at 70.7% 0.359 0.9
Edge simply supported 0.828 1/3
Continuous support along 0.943 1/3
diameter
“Central support” (mushroom or 1.206 1/4
stalk mount) (r = radius of stalk)
3 points equally spaced at edge 1.356 1/4
* Factor of reduced deflection compared to the 3-pt support

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84 Mounting of Optical Components

Self-Weight Deflection: Thin Plates

Mirrors with complex shapes (steep curvature, holes,

contoured backs, etc.) have complex distortions. These
are usually treated using finite element modeling.

For a flat, thin mirror (large aspect ratio) supported

with any number of discrete points, the rms self-weight
deflection can be found by
à ! " µ ¶2 #
³ q ´ πr2 2 h Eh3
δrms = γ N 1+2 D= ¡ ¢
D N u 12 1 − ν2

where γ N is the support point efficiency, q is the force

applied per unit area, D is the flexural rigidity, N is the
number of support points, and u is the effective length
between support points.
Since this equation is based on thin-plate theory, it has
greater than 20–30% error for thick (small aspect ratio)
mirrors. The variable γ N is a fixed constant determined
by finite element analysis (FEA) of an optimal design (see
Ref. 4).
An estimate of γ N for N number of support points:

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Mounting of Optical Components 85

Self-Weight Deflection: Parametric Model

There is a parametric model that suits both large-

and small-aspect-ratio mirrors: the equation below
can determine the rms deflection δrms as well as
the peak-to-valley deflection δP −V and the rms or
peak-to-valley slope error (∆P −V d or ∆rms d , respec-
tively), with or without low-order curvature (power).

This equation applies

δrms , δP −V , (∆P −V d ) , (∆rms d )
only to flat mirrors
³ q ´³ ´
(with no curvature or
=γ π r 2 (1 + f )
D holes). It has less than
A B 10% error for mirrors
f= · e −v + p · ν + C
α α with a Poisson ratio ν
of 0.1–0.35.
where α is the mirror aspect ratio (diameter-to-thickness
ratio), D is the flexural rigidity, and γ, A, B, and
C are parametrically determined constants. Parametric
variables for a three-point, six-point, and continuous ring
support:
Optical
Optimal
Sup- perfor-
target & γ (×106 ) A B C (×102 )
port mance
position
metric

δrms δP −V 246.7 0.50 4.10 −2.79

δrms 58.58 1.27 2.93 −6.56
3-pt ∆P −V . d 396.7 0.78 3.91 −6.39
66.3% ∆rms . d 264.3 1.20 2.70 −5.38

δrms δP −V 36.59 6.12 3.57 −24.4

δrms 8.380 6.04 4.37 −36.7
6-pt ∆P −V . d 116.5 4.74 2.30 −27.9
68.5% ∆rms . d 67.17 3.68 1.14 −21.0

δrms δP −V 29.33 6.55 4.09 −29.2

δrms 7.574 6.54 4.36 −39.0
Ring ∆P −V . d 91.94 5.12 2.53 −31.9
68.5% ∆rms . d 59.98 3.31 0.74 −21.2

The second column lists the optimized parameter and

the diameter percentage at which the supports should be
placed. The third column lists the parameter calculated.
The slope variable provides the amount of deflection for
a unit diameter, but the result must be divided by the
diameter to obtain the actual slope value (see Ref. 5).

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

86 Mounting of Optical Components

Lightweighting Mirrors

For many applications, especially in flight and aerospace,

weight is a driving requirement. Various techniques can
be used to lightweight large mirrors by removing unused
substrate material. The stiffness-to-weight ratio is an
important factor to consider when lightweighting a mirror:
the higher this ratio is, the better. Flexural rigidity
describes the bending stiffness of a mirror and is also an
important factor.
A contoured-back mirror has material removed from
the back face that is not being used optically. Correctly
done, a contour back provides reduced weight and an
increased stiffness-to-weight ratio. Common contours are
a taper or a spherical rear surface put into the back and
single or double arches.

If the ratio of the self-weight deflection of a lightweight

mirror to the self-weight deflection of a solid mirror of
the same diameter is greater than one, the lightweight
mirror has less stiffness and is generally not a good
solution.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Mounting of Optical Components 87

Lightweighting Mirrors (cont.)

In a cellular-core mirror, the back of the mirror may

be open or closed, but the core is made of cells that are
hexagonal, triangular, square, etc. One type of open-back-
mirror has depressions machined into the back of the
substrate to remove material and weight.
Another open-back configuration is the
cast ribbed mirror, where a honeycomb
structure is cast directly into the back
of the glass. Alternatively, a closed-
back (sandwich) mirror has access holes
drilled into the back of the mirror, and material is removed
from the center of the substrate. A
fused core can be made by welding
many L-shape structures together;
the front and back substrates are
then fused onto the egg-crate core.
Weight Weight Height Weight
Mirror
vs vs vs vs
type
height deflect deflect efficiency
Single 3 5 5 5
arch
Double 4 2 4 2
arch
Open-back 1 4 2 3
Symmetric 2 1 1 1
sandwich
Solid 5 3 3 4

Mirror Fabrication Fabrication Mounting

type ease/speed cost ease
Single arch 2 3 2
Double 3 2 3
arch
Open-back 5 4 4
Symmetric 5 5 5
sandwich
Solid 1 1 1
1 = best performance, 5 = worst performance (see Ref. 6).

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

88 Mounting of Optical Components

Flexural Rigidity of Lightweighted Mirrors

The equivalent flexural rigidity of a lightweighted

mirror can be calculated by
Eh3
D= ¡ B ¢
12 1 − ν2

Open-back mirror:
£ ¡ ¢¤
3 [1 − (η/2)] t4F − ηh4C /2 + ( t F + h C )4 (η/2)
hb =
t F + (η h C /2)

Sandwich mirror:
(2B + t c ) t c
h3b = (2 t F + h C )3 − (1 − η/2) h3C ; η=
(B + t c )2
t F = faceplate thickness

h C = rib height (depth of core)

t c = cell wall thickness

B = diameter of circle inscribed in a cell

p p
(B square = b, B triangl e = 3b, B hexagon = b/ 3)
b = length of cell wall

h b = equivalent bending thickness

η = rib solidity ratio

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Design Considerations and Analysis 89

RMS, P–V, and Slope Specifications

When tolerancing surface quality for an optic, allowable

errors are often expressed in root-mean-square and/or
peak-to-valley error. The peak-to-valley (P–V) value
gives the distance between the highest and lowest points
on a given surface relative to a reference surface. This
measurement can be easily skewed if dust or other
contaminants are present on the surface. The root-mean-
square (rms) value gives the standard deviation of the
test surface height from a reference surface; it provides
a better measurement of surface quality if there are a
sufficient number of sampling points.
There is no set ratio be-
tween P–V and rms er- As a rule of thumb, for
ror, although values from a given amount of a low-
3–5 are commonly used. order rms figure error,
The specific relationship multiply by 4 to get the
between the two errors de- P–V error.
pends on the fabrication process and how the surface is
tested. The following table shows rms errors resulting
from 1 µm of select P–V surface errors. These values are
the normalized rms coefficients of the Zernike polynomial
for the specific error.

RMS surface
Surface error error (µm) P–V : RMS ratio

Focus 0.29 3.45

Astigmatism 0.20 5.00
Coma 0.18 5.56
Spherical (4th order) 0.30 3.33
Trefoil 0.18 5.56
Astigmatism (4th order) 0.16 6.25
Coma (5th order) 0.14 7.14
Spherical (6th order) 0.19 5.26
Sinusoidal ripples 0.35 2.86

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

90 Design Considerations and Analysis

Finite Element Analysis

When a closed-form solution or equation is not available

for a particular analysis, modeling the system in a finite-
element-analysis program is an alternate approach to
consider. The finite element method (FEM) or finite
element analysis (FEA) is a numerical approximation
method where a component or system is modeled in
a computer program and analyzed for specific results.
Common analyses include stress concentration, surface
deformations, thermal effects, buckling, and identifying
natural frequency and modes.
Before using FEA, some issues should be considered:
• Is FEA required for the problem (i.e., is there a
simpler closed-form solution available)?
• Does the FEA program have the type of analysis
required?

If FEA is an appropriate tool, other factors should be

considered, including:
• How detailed does the model need to be? Analyzing
stress concentration will require a detailed model for
the part of interest, whereas determining the natural
frequency only requires a basic model.
• Can a symmetric model be used to reduce processing
time?
• What is the desired output? Does the program provide
that output or is postprocessing required?

If a model is symmetric, analysis can be conducted on only

a portion of the full model and then extrapolated due to the
symmetry. This allows for smaller models and faster run
times. This requires more user knowledge and cannot be
applied to problems that are nonlinear or nonsymmetric.

A “good” FEA model will

lack the detail of a full
CAD model.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Design Considerations and Analysis 91

Finite Element Analysis (cont.)

The basic steps involved in FEA are preprocessing,

analysis, and postprocessing.

When defining the system

In the preprocessing step,
geometry and coordinate
the system geometry is set
system, keep in mind that
by creating a solid model
most optical postprocess-
in a computer-aided-design
ing programs require the
(CAD) program. Constraints
z axis to be the optical
holding the part and forces
axis.
imparted on that part are
then added to the model, including mounting supports,
gravity, and applied loads. The material properties of the
elements are also defined for accurate results; the units
should be verified. The continuous geometry of the model
is then discretized into individual elements connected by
nodal points, with each node defining a degree of free-
dom. The web of nodal points is referred to as a mesh.

There are a variety

of mesh shapes that
can be used, and de-
termining the proper
mesh is important for accurate analysis. Meshes range
from coarse (very few nodes) to fine (high density of nodes).
Most FEA programs have automatic mesh generators and
offer convergence algorithms (such as h-adaptive and p-
adapative) that create finer meshes for more detailed por-
tions of the model.
As a rule of thumb, there should be a minimum of four
elements through the height or thickness of a part and
eight elements in the radial direction.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

92 Design Considerations and Analysis

Finite Element Analysis (cont.)

A 10-node tetrahedral mesh provides more fidelity than a

4-node mesh, which will be stiffer and will underestimate
deflections. The user should check the default settings for
how many nodes are used for the automatic meshing.

The finer a mesh is, the more accurate the solution;

however, accuracy comes at the cost of added computing
time. Typically, a course mesh will yield accurate results
for analyzing deformations, whereas a fine mesh is
required for accurate stress analysis. A coarse mesh can
also be used for initial analyses and then refined for
later runs. For optical surfaces, a symmetric mesh should
always be defined. The following figure shows possible
symmetric models for a three-point mount:

Before completing a detailed analysis, a simplified model

should be analyzed and compared to a known solution to
determine if the model is acting accurately. The validity of
an FEA depends highly on generating a proper mesh and
properly applying the loads and boundary constraints. It is
important to verify the FEA model with hand calculations
for expected results.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Design Considerations and Analysis 93

Finite Element Analysis (cont.)

Every FEA program has a solver that is used to

complete the required analysis. Most programs offer
a variety of solvers; each one has different advantages
and disadvantages for a particular application. The help
documentation should be consulted for details on how each
solver operates and under what conditions each should be
used.
A convergence test should also be completed to
determine a reasonable mesh size. If symmetric loads
and constraints are applied, the results should also be
symmetric. This can check the accuracy of the model.

Most FEA programs provide the (optional) capability of

optimizing a solid model. Analogous to a lens-design
program, a model can be created with user-defined
parameters as well as a user-defined merit function. The
model can then be optimized to the merit function by
altering the variables allowed by the user.

An FEA model often requires postprocessing of the

generated data. This step involves exporting information
from the FEA program in a format that is usable by an
external code that outputs the final product. One example
is exporting surface deflections to a spreadsheet and then
importing the data into MATLAB® code that generates
Zernike polynomials describing the surface error.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

94 Design Considerations and Analysis

Vibration

A variety of environmental factors can affect the

performance of an optical system; vibration, temperature,
shock, humidity, pressure (altitude), corrosion, abrasion,
and contamination, among others, are possible issues to
take into consideration when designing a system. For a
comprehensive list of the effects of these environments
and of methods for laboratory testing, MIL-STD-810G or
ISO 9022 should be consulted.

A single-degree-of-freedom sys-
tem consists of a mass, spring,
and damper held fixed at one end.
If the mass is set into motion, it
will oscillate at its fundamental,
or natural, frequency in only one
direction.
The natural frequency of a system is the frequency at
which it resonates, given by
s
k ω0
ω0 = f0 =
m 2π
The approximate motion of a system can be found by
assuming that it only has one degree of freedom and
finding the natural frequency.
Damping is the process in which mechanical energy is
dissipated from a system and the amplitude of vibration
at resonance is reduced. It is expressed by a damping
coefficient C . Critical damping C r is the damping
coefficient that causes the system to return to its initial
position in the shortest amount of time without over-
oscillation. The damping factor is then defined as the
ratio of the damping coefficient to the value of critical
damping:
C
ζ=
Cr

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Design Considerations and Analysis 95

Damping Factor

The higher the damping factor ζ, the more quickly

vibrations at resonance are attenuated. The maximum
amplification at resonance Q refers to the amount
of vibration transmission that occurs at resonance. The
damping factor and maximum amplification at resonance
are related by
1
ζ=
2Q
A lower Q factor means a system will be better
damped and more stable. For optomechanical systems, the
damping factor can be estimated as < 0.025 (maximum
amplification at resonance, Q > 20). For small amplitudes,
such as ground vibrations, it is possible to have a damping
factor as small as 0.005 (Q = 100). The damping factor is
also related to the logarithmic decrement, which can be
used to measure an underdamped system:
δ 1 Ai
ζ= q δ= ln
n An
(2π)2 + δ2
where A i and A n are amplitudes, and n is the number of
periods between the two measurements.

Power spectral density (PSD) measures the energy

content of a system versus frequency: it shows how
strongly a system will vibrate with a certain frequency.
The units of PSD are energy per unit frequency (g2 /Hz),
plotted on a log–log scale.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

96 Design Considerations and Analysis

Isolation

The isolation of a system is accomplished by maintaining

the proper relationship between the frequency of
environmental vibrations and the natural frequency of the
system. Vibration isolators can reduce the amount of
vibration that is transferred from the environment to a
system—when used, their resonant frequency should be
at least an order of magnitude less than the system.
There are a wide variety of isolator materials and
designs, and the specific isolator properties chosen will
ultimately depend on the system requirements and
vibration environment. Some of the common types of
isolators include elastomeric isolators, springs, spring-
friction dampers, springs with air dampings, springs
with wire mesh, and pneumatic systems. Common
environmental noise sources and their corresponding
frequencies in hertz include the swaying of tall buildings
(0.1–5), machinery vibration (10–100), building vibration
(10–100), microseisms [threshold of disturbance of
interferometers and electron microscopes] (0.1–1), and
atomic vibrations (1012 ).

Transmissibility T de-
scribes how much of any
environmental vibrations
are transmitted to the
isolated system (i.e., lower
transmissibility means
more isolation).
v
u ³ ´2
u
u 1 + 2 ff0 ζ
T =u
uµ ¶2
t ³ ´2
f2 f
1− f 02
+ 2f ζ
0

When the driving frequency f is equal to the resonant

frequency, the equation is at a maximum and reduces to
the expression given earlier [Tmax = Q = 1/(2ζ)].

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Design Considerations and Analysis 97

System Acceleration and Displacement

If a system is exposed to a spectrum of random vibrations,

it will vibrate at its natural frequency. For a single-
degree of-freedom system experiencing random vibrations,
the rms acceleration can be estimated by the Miles
equation:
r
π
a rms = · f 0 · Q · PSD
2
Although derived for a single-degree-of-freedom system,
the Miles equation is useful in estimating the acceleration
due to random vibrations at the natural frequency for
a multiple-degree-of-freedom system. It should be noted,
however, that the equation is based on the response of
a system to a flat random input; it may significantly
underpredict the acceleration for a shaped input, like
those of transportation vehicles.

The value of a rms provides a “1-sigma” value for

the vibration response. In vibration engineering, it is
typically assumed that the 3-σ peak response will cause
the most structural damage, so the value of a rms should
be multiplied by three.

Assuming a single-degree-of-freedom system, the approxi-

mate motion of the system can be found by
a rms
δrms =
(2π f 0 )2
When the PSD is given in units of g2 /Hz, a rms will be in
units of g. To convert to m/s2 , multiply a rms by 9.8 m/s2 .
The sinusoid resonance that has the same damage
potential as a random resonance has a peak acceleration
that is (4.5)0.5 times the rms value of the random
resonance.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

98 Design Considerations and Analysis

Thermal Effects

Most optical systems are designed and assembled at

“room temperature,” typically 20–23 ◦ C. When designing
optomechanical systems, it is important to remember
that materials expand or contract with temperature
change. Therefore, if a system is to be used outside of
a temperature-controlled environment, thermal effects
should be considered.
Temperature extremes commonly endured by optics are:
1. Survival/Storage: −62 to 71 ◦ C (−80 to 160 ◦ F)
2. Operation: −54 to 52 ◦ C (−65 to 125◦ F)
3. Space: approaching absolute zero (∼0 K, −273 ◦ C,
459◦ F)

Specifications that apply to the environmental testing of

optical systems include MIL-STD-210, MIL-STD-810, ISO
10109, and ISO 9022.
The coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) is a
material property that describes the change in size of
a material with temperature. It is represented by α
and has units of 10−6 m/m /◦ C (ppm /◦ C). The CTE of a
material is quoted at room temperature but may vary
with temperature. The CTE value should be verified for
extreme temperatures.
The change in length of a material due to a given uniform
temperature change ∆T is given by
∆L = αL∆T

The thermal strain experienced in a material is given by

∆L
ε= = α∆T
L
If a given linear dimension is constrained, the thermal
stress induced in that dimension by a temperature change
is given by
σ = E α∆T

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Design Considerations and Analysis 99

Thermal Effects (cont.)

The thermal conductivity of a material describes the

ability of that material to conduct heat. Typically, a
higher value of thermal conductivity is desirable because
it will take less time for the material to reach thermal
equilibrium, and it will be less affected by thermal
gradients.
λ = thermal conductivity
QL
λ= Q = heat flux per unit area absorbed by the
∆T
material
A gradient in the thermal strain
can be caused by a temperature
gradient (dT /dh) or a temperature
change ∆T coupled with CTE
gradient (d α/dh). In general, the
strain gradient is
d dT dα
(α T ) = α + ∆T
dh dh dh
If a thermal gradient is driven by heat flux Q , then
d α
(α T ) = Q
dh λ
A thermal gradient will cause the part to bend, changing
the curvature by ∆C :
µ ¶
1 dT α
∆C = ∆ =α = Q
R dh λ
A curved part would suffer a change in radius:
dT α
∆ R = − R 2 ∆C = − R 2 α = −R 2 Q
dh λ
The change in angle across the part is then
dT
∆θ = Lα
dh

The change in sag across the

part is
L2 L2 α dT
∆ sag = ∆C =
8 8 dh

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

100 Design Considerations and Analysis

Heat Flow

The heat flow through a material is given by

H =Q·A

which allows for the calculation of the change in

temperature after applying a given heat to a material.
Transient heat flux is a temperature distribution that
changes over time. The thermal diffusivity describes
how quickly a material responds to temperature change:
the higher the diffusivity is, the quicker the response.
λ D = thermal diffusivity
D=
ρC p C p = specific heat capacity

The response of a system to a change in temperature is an

exponential decay in the ratio of the internal to external
temperatures. The time required for a system to change
temperature by a factor of 1/ e is defined as one thermal
time constant τ:
t2
τ=
D
where t is the material thickness.
After five thermal time constants (assuming temperature
does not vary greatly with time), the system reaches
<1% difference in internal to external temperatures—
an acceptable threshold to assume the system is at
equilibrium.
Temperature stabilization is important for many
optical instruments, such as astronomical telescopes.
Metal mirrors used with high-energy laser beams are
often cooled with liquid. Temperature-controlled air can
be passed through large, lightweighted structures for
temperature stabilization.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Design Considerations and Analysis 101

Heat Flow (cont.)

Heat flow can be described by conduction, convection, or

radiation. The equations for these processes are:
dT
• Steady-state heat flow Q = −λ∇T = −λ
dx
∂T ∂T 2
• Transient heat flow = D ∇2 T = D
∂i ∂ x2
• Convective heat transfer Q = h (T w − T0 )
¡ ¢
• Radiative heat transfer Q = εσ T14 − T04

where i is time, T w is the surface temperature, T0 is

the fluid temperature, σ is the Stefan constant (5.57 ×
10−8 W/m2 K4 ), h is the heat-transfer coefficient [W/m2 K]
(5–50 in air, 3000–5000 in water), and emissivity ε = 1 for
a blackbody.
The Biot number is often used in heat-flow calculations:
ht
Bi =
λ
Heat flow is limited by convection when B i < 1, and limited
by conduction when B i > 1.
Temperature affects not only the geometry of a component
or system but the optical properties as well. The
temperature coefficient of the refractive index
dn/dT defines the change in the index of refraction of a
material due to a temperature change:
µ ¶
dn
n0 = n + ∆T
dT
Typically, the temperature coefficient of the refractive
index of air is called out in two different ways: measured
in a vacuum [absolute dn/dT (dn abs /dT )] and measured
at standard temperature and pressure in dry air [relative
dn/dT (dn rel /dT )]. The two terms are related by
µ ¶ µ ¶ µ ¶
dn abs dn air dn rel
= n rel + n rel
dT dT dT

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

102 Design Considerations and Analysis

Air Index of Refraction

As temperature changes, the refractive index of the air

also varies ( dn air /dT ). The air index of refraction is
commonly defined by the updated Edlén equation by
Birch and Downs:

· ¸(£ ¡ ¢ ¤)
P ( n − 1)s 1 + 10−8 0.601 − 9.72 · 10−3 T P
( n − 1) =
96095.43 1 + 3.661 · 10−3 T
· ¸
2406147 15998
(n − 1)s = 8342.54 + ¡ ¢+¡ ¢ · 10−8
130 − σ2 38.9 − σ2

where P = pressure (Pa), T = temperature (◦ C), and

σ = vacuum wavenumber (µm−1 ). The Ciddor equation
is also commonly used and provides higher accuracy
when working in extreme environments or over a broad
wavelength range.
A useful tool to calculate the air index of refraction can
be found in the Engineering Metrology Toolbox run by
the National Institute of Standards and Technology
(NIST) at http://emtoolbox.nist.gov.

A simple shop-floor calculation for the index of refraction

of the air based on the pressure (in kPa), relative
humidity (RH, in percent, i.e., 0–100), and temperature
(in ◦ C) is
7.86 · 10−4 P
n = 1+ − 1.5 · 10−11 (RH)(T 2 + 160)
273 + t
This is only valid for red He–Ne lasers at a wavelength of
633 nm. It has an uncertainty of approximately 1.5×10−7 .

The focal length of a system is then affected by each of

these changes. The change in focal length of a lens with
temperature can be quantified by
1 dn rel
∆ f = β f ∆T β = α−
n − 1 dT

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Design Considerations and Analysis 103

Athermalization

Athermalization is the process by which a system is

made insensitive to temperature change. Due to the
changes in geometry and optical properties that occur
in a system when subjected to a temperature change,
it is often necessary to athermalize either a whole or a
part of a system. Often, the most important parameter
is the defocus that occurs over temperature (especially
for IR applications, because IR optics are sensitive to
temperature changes due to their high dn/dT values).
Thermal properties of the optics, environment, and
housing can be modeled by software, and the effects of
temperature change minimized during the design process.
It is common to create an achromatic system by selecting
a combination of lenses with the appropriate optical
properties and design form to provide color correction over
a range of wavelengths. Similarly, an athermal system
can be designed by selecting a combination of lenses with
thermal properties that provide minimal thermal defocus
over a range of temperatures. For an athermal doublet,
φ1 ν0 φ2 ν0 1
= 0 1 0 ; =− 0 2 0 ; ν0 =
φ ν1 − ν2 φ ν1 − ν2 β
A common passive mechanical method of athermalization
uses two metals to compensate for focal plane shift. In
general, in order to achieve athermalization, the two
materials should satisfy the equation α1 L 1 − α2 L 2 = β f .
Care should be taken to determine which direction the
motion is occurring and adjust the sign of the variable
accordingly (i.e., if the focus is shortening, it is moving to
the left, and β should be negative).

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

104 Design Considerations and Analysis

Passive Athermalization

Metering rods provide another passive mechanical

solution utilizing low-CTE materials. In this technique,
an optical system is mounted in a conventional manner
but with individual element mounts having compliance
in the axial direction. The elements are each attached
to a metering rod made of low-expansion material. The
housing then expands and contracts with temperature,
but the optical elements remain in their nominal position.

Low-CTE materials CTE (10−6 /◦ C)

Borosilicate crown E6 2.8
Clearceram® -Z HS 0.02
Fused silica 7940 0.58
Graphite epoxy composites varies (can tune to 0)
Invar® 0.8
Super Invar® 0.31
ULE® Corning 7972 0.02
Zerodur® 0.02

An all-one-material design also provides passive

athermalization since all the optical elements and housing
will expand contract together; only the overall size of the
system will vary with temperature. For refractive systems,
glass spacers and tubes can be used, although the system
will be very fragile. For reflective systems, metals can be
used for both the mirrors and the housing. All low-CTE
materials can also be used to minimize thermal effects;
however, this solution can be very expensive.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Design Considerations and Analysis 105

Active Athermalization

Active athermalization requires a motor, a power

source, and a feedback loop to provide motion to a focusing
element or to the image plane.

A lookup table can be created to provide input to the motor,

which can drive the appropriate element(s) to refocus
the image. Temperature sensors placed within the system
provide the temperature. Depending on the specific system
and environment, it may also be necessary to calibrate the
difference between the external (actual) temperature and
the internal temperature where the sensors are located.
When a mount or design is overconstrained, changes in
temperature can cause stress in the materials. This stress
can be estimated using an equivalent CTE and equivalent
compliance. An example for the case where a single degree
of freedom is overconstrained is developed below.
For the degree of freedom of interest, divide the overall
distance L into sections, where
X
L= Li
Analogously, the overall change in length of the system
comes from the change in each section:
X
∆L = α i L i ∆T
This equation can be rewritten by defining an equivalent
CTE, α e :
P
αi L i
∆L = α e L∆T αe =
L

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

106 Design Considerations and Analysis

Determining Thermally Induced Stress

Take, for example, a glass beam-

splitter in a mount (with length
L 2 ), held by a compliant preload
(length L 1 ) against a rigid con-
straint (length L 3 ).

Define path G as the path

through the preload, glass, and
rigid constraint, and path M as
the path through the mount.

First, use the equivalent CTE to determine the expansion

of each path, assuming they are unconstrained:
X
∆L GT = α e L∆T = α i L i ∆T ∆L MT = α M L∆T

Next, use an equivalent compli-

ance (C e ) to determine the rela-
tionship between the force and
the displacement of the paths
back to their constrained position.
Assuming that the part does not
break, the change in length for
the two paths must match.
X ∆L G = ∆L M
∆L GF = C e F = Ci F
∆L GT + ∆L GF = ∆L MT + ∆L MF
∆L MF = −C M F
α e L∆T + C e F = α M L∆T − C M F
Solve for the force F , due to overconstraint:
(α M − α e ) L ∆ T
F=
Ce + CM
This force can be used to calculate thermally induced
stresses, which are compared with the strength limit for
the materials to determine the likelihood of failure.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Design Considerations and Analysis 107

Alignment

At the very basic level, alignment is a two-step process:

1. Assemble system based on mechanical properties.
2. Finely align system based on optical properties.
Optical alignment consists of two basic steps:
1. Align elements using all degrees of freedom to obtain
correct first-order properties such as magnification
and object and image height.
2. Reduce or eliminate aberrations with the remaining
degrees of freedom while keeping first-order proper-
ties fixed.
A rotationally symmetric system is aligned when the
centers of curvature of each element are on the optical
axis and each element is at the correct axial position. This
ensures that the optical axis of each element is coincident
with the system optical axis.
The optical axis of an element must
have two points to be well defined. A
circle or sphere has both foci at the
center of curvature. Its optical axis
can be defined in any direction as long
as it passes through the foci.
A parabola has one focus at
infinity and one at the focus of the
reflecting surface. Its optical axis
is defined by the line that passes
through the focus and intersects the
reflecting surface at normal incidence.
An ellipse has two real foci, whereas a hyperbola has
one real and one virtual focus. The optical axis is defined
by the two foci in each case.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

108 Design Considerations and Analysis

Optical and Mechanical Axis of a Lens

The optical axis of a lens is defined by the line

connecting the centers of curvature of each surface. If a
lens has an aspheric surface, there is no longer a uniquely
defined optical axis.

The mechanical axis passes through the physical center

of the lens, perpendicular to the outside edges. If the
mechanical and optical axes are not parallel to each other,
there is wedge in the lens. Wedge is quantified by an
angle or edge thickness difference.

An alignment telescope is a specialized instrument that

establishes an axis by focusing at different points along a
line, anywhere from ∼1 m to infinity; elements can then be
aligned to the established axis. The accuracy of alignment
depends on the quality of the telescope—a few arcseconds
are typically possible.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Design Considerations and Analysis 109

Alignment Tools

A pip generator is an accessory that can be attached to

an alignment telescope. It supplies a point source (pinhole)
or internally illuminated reticle that is reflected off of the
different surfaces under test and reimaged at an eyepiece
where the user can view the displaced image due to tilt
of the surfaces. Because the system can focus on different
surfaces as well as on the reflected images, the telescope
must have a very large focus range. Laser alignment
stations based on similar theory are also available to align
elements and cemented doublets.
An autocollimator is a
telescope focused at infin-
ity that is used for angular
measurements (i.e., wedge
in a window) and is insensitive to displacement. A reticle
is illuminated at the focal plane and focused to infinity by
an objective lens. The light is then reflected off of the sur-
face under testing and returned to the eyepiece where the
user can view both the original and reflected reticle. The
test surface is ideally perpendicular to the beam; any devi-
ation results in a displacement of the reflected reticle. The
amount of displacement between the two reticle images is
given by d = 2α f , where α is the tilt angle of the object
under testing, and f is the focal length of the objective.
An autostigmatic microscope uses an internal fiber
source and small CCD to send out a perfectly imaged
point and detect the lateral location and focus of the
return spot in three dimensions; it is used primarily
to locate the center of curvatures and lens conjugates,
and to align them to
each other or to an
axis. Such a micro-
scope can also be used
to measure the radius
of curvature of a lens
if the lens is mounted
on an optical rail.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

110 Tolerancing

Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing

Geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T)
is a way to provide tolerances on the geometry and fit
of mechanical parts in order to describe the engineering
intent of a part; it allows engineers to describe the size,
form, orientation, and location of features in a way
other than simple max-
imum and minimum di-
mensions (limit dimen-
sions). The international
standards for GD&T are
ASME Y14.5-2009 and
ISO1101(e)-2004.

Tolerances and features in GD&T

are called out using symbols. A
tolerance on a feature is often called
out in reference to a datum, which
can be a line, point, axis, etc.
established by a feature on the part. Datums should be
chosen to adequately constrain the part and establish a
datum reference frame consisting of three mutually
perpendicular, intersecting datum planes. It is from the
datum reference frame that the location or geometric
relationship of another feature can be defined. Datums
should be chosen based on the function of the part.
Basic dimensions are those that define a true position
of a feature but are not toleranced. A tolerance zone, a
zone within which a feature can vary, is then located with
a basic dimension.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Tolerancing 111

GD&T Terminology

Positional tolerances are used to define features of size.

A feature of size is defined as an object that has opposing
points (see left figure). Some examples of objects that are
not features of size are a flat surface or line element (see
right figure).

The maximum material condition (MMC)

callout refers to a feature of size that has the
maximum amount of material but remains within the size
limits. Examples include the largest possible diameter of
a pin or the smallest possible diameter of a hole.

Conversely, the least material condition (LMC)

callout refers to a feature of size that has the
minimum amount of material but remains within the size
limits. Examples include the smallest possible diameter of
a pin or the largest possible diameter of a hole. Material
modifiers allow the size of the associated tolerance zone to
be adjusted based on the measured size of the feature.
Pictorially demonstrated below is the envelope princi-
ple, or Rule #1. Given a (a) toleranced part, when that
part is at MMC, it must have (b) perfect form. (c) Varia-
tion in form is permitted as the part varies from MMC.
There is no requirement on the form of the part at LMC,
but (d) the maximum variation that occurs at LMC must
not exceed the boundaries set by MMC.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

112 Tolerancing

GD&T Symbology

On a drawing, individual tolerances and material

conditions are called out in a feature control frame.
First, the geometric symbol is called out, then the specific
tolerance and any material conditions are stated, and
finally, the primary datum from which the tolerance is
referenced is listed. Sometimes secondary and tertiary
datums are also included.

The common geometric symbols used in GD&T are:

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Tolerancing 113

ISO 10110 Standard

The ISO 10110 standard provides details on the
drafting of technical drawings for optical elements
and systems, including rules on the presentation of
component characteristics, optical properties, dimensions,
and tolerances.
1: General
2: Material imperfections—Stress birefringence (0/)
On drawing as 0/ A , where A is the maximum permissible stress
birefringence in nm/cm.
3: Material imperfections—Bubbles and inclusions (1/)
On drawing as 1/ N × A , where N is the number of bubbles and
inclusions, and A is a measure of their size (refer to the standard
for details).
4: Material imperfections—Inhomogeneity and striae (2/)
On drawing as 2/ A ;B, specifying the allowable class of
inhomogeneity ( A ) and striae (B).
5: Surface form tolerances (3/)
On drawing as 3/ A (B/C ) or alternate forms, where A is
the maximum spherical sag error from a test plate, B is
the maximum irregularity (P − V ), and C is the maximum
rotationally symmetric P–V figure error.
6: Centering tolerances (4/)
On drawing as 4/α or alternate forms, where α is the angle
between the datum and the surface.
7: Surface imperfection tolerances (5/)
On drawing as 5/ N × A , where N is the number of allowed
imperfections, and A is a measure of size.
8: Surface texture
9: Surface treatment and coating
10: Table representing data of optical elements and cemented
assemblies
11: Non-toleranced data
12: Aspheric surfaces
13: Laser irradiation damage threshold (6/)
On drawing as 6/ H th (or E th ); λ; τeff for pulsed laser irradiation
and 6/F th ; λ; τeff for long pulse and continuous wave (CW)
operation, where (λ) is the laser wavelength, τeff is the effective
pulse duration, H th and E th are the energy density threshold and
power density threshold, respectively, and F th is the linear power
density threshold.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

114 Appendices

Tolerance Guides

Tolerance Guide for Lenses

High
Parameter Baseline Precision
precision
Lens diameter ±100 µm ±25 µm ±6 µm
Center thickness ±200 µm ±50 µm ±10 µm
Radius of 0.50% 0.10% 0.05%
curvature (%R)
Radius of 20 µm 2 µm 0.5 µm
curvature (sag)
Wedge 5 arcmin 1 arcmin 15 arcsec
Surface λ λ/4 λ/20
irregularity
Surface finish 5 nm rms 2 nm rms 0.5 nm rms
Scratch/dig 80/50 60/40 20/10
Clear aperture 80% 90% >90%
(Intended for standard-production spherical glass lenses)

Tolerance Guide for Glass Properties

High
Parameter Baseline Precision
precision
Refractive index – ±5 · 10−4 ±3 · 10−4 ±2 · 10−4
from nominal (Grade 3) (Grade 2) (Grade 1)
Refractive index – ±1 · 10−4 ±5 · 10−6 ±2 · 10−6
measurement
Refractive index – ±2 · 10−5 ±5 · 10−6 ±1 · 10−6
homogeneity (H1) (H2) (H4)
Dispersion – from ±0.8% ±0.5% ±0.2%
nominal (Grade 4) (Grade 3) (Grade 1)
Stress 20 nm/cm 10 nm/cm 4 nm/cm
birefringence
Bubbles/ 0.5 mm2 0.1 mm2 0.029 mm2
inclusions >50 µm (Class B0)
(area of bubbles
per 100 cm3 )
Striae – based on Fine Small, in None
shadow graph test one direction detectable

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Appendices 115

Tolerance Guides (cont.)

Tolerance Guide for Injection-Molded Plastics

Low
Parameter cost Commercial Precision

Focal length (%) ±3–5 ±2–3 ±0.5–1

Radius of curvature ±3–5 ±2–3 ±0.8–1.5
(%)
Power (fringes) 10–6 5–2 1–0.5
Irregularity 2.4–4 0.8–2.4 0.8–1.2
(fringes/10 mm)
Scratch/dig 80/50 60/40 40/20
0 0 0
Centration ±3 ±2 ±1
Center thickness ±0.1 ±0.05 ±0.01
(mm)
Radial 0.1 0.05 0.02
displacement (mm)
Lens-to-lens 2–1 0.5–1 0.3–0.5
repeatability
Diameter–thickness 2:1 3:1 5:1
ratio
Bubbles and — 1 × 0.16 1 × 0.10
inclusions
Surface — 2 × 0.10 2 × 0.06
imperfections
Surface roughness 10 5 2
(nm rms)

Tolerance Guide for Machined Parts

Machining level Metric English

00
Coarse dimensions ±1 mm ±0.040
(not important)
00
Typical machining ±0.25 mm ±0.010
(low difficulty)
00
Precision machining ±0.025 mm ±0.001
(readily available)
00
High precision (needs <±0.002 mm < ±0.0001
special tooling)

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

116 Appendices

Tolerance Guides (cont.)

Tolerance Guide for Edge Bevels

Lens diameter Nominal bevel facewidth
(mm) (mm)

25 0.3

50 0.5

150 1

400 2

In mechanics, a bevel and chamfer generally have the

same meaning. For optical components, the term bevel
is most commonly used, and it is dimensioned by the
facewidth. Typical optics bevels are at 45 deg, and the
tolerance is 20–30% of the facewidth value.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Appendices 117

Clean-Room Classifications

For precision fabrication, a clean room that is free of dust

and contaminants is often required. Federal Standard
209 was the original document that defined clean-room
classifications, but it has since been replaced by ISO
14644.
• According to Federal Standard 209, a clean-room
classification defines the maximum number of
particles ≥ 0.5 µm permitted per cubic foot of air (i.e.,
Class 100 has at most 100 particles/ft3 that are ≥ 0.5
µm).
• According to ISO 14644-1, a clean room classification
defines the order of magnitude of particles ≥ 0.1 µm
permitted per cubic meter of air (i.e., Class 5 has at
most 105 = 100,000 particles/m3 that are ≥ 0.1 µm).

Clean-room
Typical uses
classification
Class 1 and 10 Manufacturing electronic
integrated circuits
Class 100 Manufacturing hard drives
and medical implants
Class 1000 Pharmaceutical
manufacturing
Class 10,000 Hospital operating rooms,
manufacturing TV tubes
Class 100,000 Assembly of consumer
optics, manufacturing ball
bearings

Equivalent classes of FS 209 and ISO

14644-1
ISO
3 4 5 6 7 8
class
FS 209
1 10 100 1,000 10,000 100,000
class

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

118 Appendices

Clean-Room Classifications (cont.)

FS 209 Maximum concentration (particles/m3 ) for

class a given particle size (µm)

≥0.1 ≥0.2 ≥0.3 ≥ 0.5 ≥5

1 35 7.5 3 1 —

10 350 75 30 10 —

100 — 750 300 100 —

1,000 — — — 1,000 7

10,000 — — — 10,000 70

100,000 — — — 100,000 700

ISO Maximum concentration (particles/m3 ) for a given

class particle size (µm)

≥0.1 ≥0.2 ≥0.3 ≥0.5 ≥1 ≥5

1 10 2 – – – –

2 100 24 10 4 – –

3 1,000 237 102 35 8 –

4 10,000 2,370 1,020 352 83 –

2.37 · 1.02 ·
5 100,000 3,520 832 29
104 104
2.37 · 1.02 · 3.52 ·
6 1,000,000 8,320 293
105 105 104
3.52 · 8.32 ·
7 — — — 2,930
105 104
3.52 · 8.32 · 2.93 ·
8 — — —
106 105 104
3.52 · 8.32 · 2.93 ·
9 — — —
107 106 105

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Appendices 119

Shipping Environments: Vibration

It is important to understand the environment in which a

package is shipped to ensure that it is able to withstand
transportation.
The following values are taken from power spectral
density (PSD) versus frequency curves provided in ASTM
Standard D7386-08:

PSD – pick- PSD –

Frequency up/delivery over-the-road
(Hz)
vehicle (g2 /Hz) trailer (g2 /Hz)
1 0.001 0.0007
3 0.035 0.02
5 0.35 0.02
7 0.0003 0.001
13 0.0003 0.001
15 0.001 0.004
24 0.001 0.004
29 0.0001 0.001
50 0.0001 0.001
70 0.002 0.003
100 0.002 0.003
200 5 · 10−5 4 · 10−6
Overall, g rms 0.46 0.53

By knowing the PSD values over a spectrum of vibration

frequencies, the approximate motion of the system can be
found (see the sections on Vibration and Isolation).

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

120 Appendices

Shipping Environments: Drop Heights

Multiple studies have been conducted to determine the

shipping environments for various modes of delivery,
carriers, and package weights and sizes. These studies
have consistently found that, regardless of size and
weight, 95% of the time packages were dropped from a
height of 0.46–0.86 m. The 95th percentile was chosen
to exclude outliers where drop heights were significantly
larger than the average. The maximum drop heights were
in the range of 0.9–2.0 m.

Package size/weight Height at which 95% of

classification drops occurred (m)
Small/light 0.76
Small/medium 0.61
Mid-size/light 0.46
Mid-size/medium 0.61
Mid-size/heavy 0.66
Large/medium 0.46
Large/heavy 0.46

Once an estimated drop height h has been determined, the

acceleration experienced by the package (in units of g) can
be calculated by:

s
h
ag =
δSW EF
The deflection due
to a self-weight
equivalent force
variable δSWEF
is the amount the
packaging deflects
if the system ex-
periences a down-
ward force equiv-
alent to its own weight.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Appendices 121

Unit Conversions

English Metric Metric English

1 in 25.4 mm 1 mm 0.0394 in
1 ft 0.31 m 1m 3.28 ft
1 mi 1.61 km 1 km 0.62 mi
1 oz 28.35 g 1 kg 35.27 oz
1 lb 0.45 kg 1 kg 2.2 lb
1 arcsec 4.85 µrad 1 µrad 0.21 arcsec
1 arcmin 291 µrad 1 mrad 3.44 arcmin
1 deg 17.5 mrad 1 rad 57.3 deg
1 psi 6895 Pa 1 MPa 145 psi
1 lb-force 4.45 N 1N 0.22 lb-force
1 lb-in 0.113 N-m 1 N-m 8.85 lb-in
1 atm 760 mmHg 760 mmHg 1 atm
1 mph 0.45 m/s 1 m/s 2.24 mph

Temperature
°C (°F − 32) · 5/9
°F (°C · 9/5) + 32
K °C + 273.15 K

The following table presents common terminology used in

machining and their meanings:

Term Value
00
a thousandth 0.001
00
a thou 0.001
00
a mil 0.001 (1 “milli-inch”)
00
40 thousandths 0.040
40 thousandths ≈ 1 mm
00
two-tenths 0.0002 (2/10 of 1 thousandth)
00
millionth 0.0000001 (1 millionth of an inch)

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

122 Appendices

Cost and Performance Tradeoffs for Linear Stages

The following charts provide relationships between the

cost, travel range, angular deviation, and load capacity
of various types of manual, one-axis, linear stages. The
stages considered have less than a 2.5-in travel range and
are sold by major optomechanical vendors.

DT = dovetail
BB = ball bearing
GA = gothic arch
CR = crossed-roller bearing
Flex = flexure

Property DT BB GA CR Flex
Mid/
Cost Low Mid Mid High
High
Very
Resolution Low Mid Mid High
High
Travel Very
Large Mid Mid Mid
range Small
Load
High* Low High High High
capacity
Angular
High Mid Low Low –
deviation

Stiffness High Low High High Mid

Resolution No
∼10–100 ∼0.5–1 ∼1–10 ∼1–10
(µm)** limit
Coarse Gen. Gen. Fiber Fiber
Common precise precise optics optics
place-
uses place- place- place- place-
ment
ment ment ment ment
* As a class in general, dovetail stages can handle very large loads.
Stages in the example travel range (<2.5 in) are most concerned with
low cost, resulting in the low load capacities shown in the charts.
** Resolution ranges provided here are approximate. Some manual
stages offer resolution down to 0.1 µm with the proper driver.

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Appendices 123
Cost and Performance Tradeoffs for Linear Stages
(cont.)

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

124 Appendices
Cost and Performance Tradeoffs for Linear Stages
(cont.)

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Appendices 125

Torque Charts

Size Bolt diameter D (in) Stress area A (in2 )

4-40 0.1120 0.00604
4-48 0.1120 0.0061
6-32 0.1380 0.00909
6-40 0.1380 0.01015
8-32 0.1640 0.01400
8-36 0.1640 0.01474
10-24 0.1900 0.0175
10-32 0.1900 0.02000
1/4-20 0.2500 0.0318
1/4-28 0.2500 0.0364
5/16-18 0.3125 0.0524
5/16-24 0.3125 0.0580
3/8-16 0.3750 0.0775
3/8-24 0.3750 0.0878

SAE Grade-2 Bolts

74,000-psi tensile strength; 55,000-psi-proof load
Clamp Torque dry Torque
Size load P (lb) (in-lb) lubed (in-lb)
4-40 240 5 4
4-48 280 6 5
6-32 380 10 8
6-40 420 12 9
8-32 580 19 14
8-36 600 20 15
10-24 720 27 21
10-32 820 31 23
1/4-20 1320 66 49
1/4-28 1500 76 56
5/16-18 2160 11 8
5/16-24 2400 12 9
3/8-16 3200 20 15
3/8-24 3620 23 17

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

126 Appendices

Torque Charts (cont.)

SAE Grade-5 Bolts

120,000-psi tensile strength; 85,000-psi-proof load
Clamp Torque dry Torque
Size load P (lb) (in-lb) lubed (in-lb)
4-40 380 8 6
4-48 420 9 7
6-32 580 16 12
6-40 640 18 13
8-32 900 30 22
8-36 940 31 23
10-24 1120 43 32
10-32 1285 49 36
1/4-20 2020 96 75
1/4-28 2320 120 86
5/16-18 3340 17 13
5/16-24 3700 19 14
3/8-16 4940 30 23
3/8-24 5600 35 25

SAE Grade-8 Bolts

150,000-psi tensile strength; 120,000-psi-proof load
Clamp Torque dry Torque
Size load P (lb) (in-lb) lubed (in-lb)
4-40 540 12 9
4-48 600 13 10
6-32 820 23 17
6-40 920 25 19
8-32 1260 41 31
8-36 1320 43 32
10-24 1580 60 45
10-32 1800 68 51
1/4-20 2860 144 108
1/4-28 3280 168 120
5/16-18 4720 25 18
5/16-24 5220 25 20
3/8-16 7000 45 35
3/8-24 7900 35 25

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Appendices 127

Adhesive Properties

Shear str.
Adhesive Suggested
Type at 24 °C
(Mfr.) curing time
(MPa)

2216 B/A Epoxy 22.1 30 min (93°C)

Gray (3M) (2-part) 120 min
(66°C)
A-12 Epoxy 34.5 60 min (93°C)
(Armstrong) (2-part) 5 min (149°C)
(mix 1:1) 1 wk (24°C)
302-3M Epoxy 8.9 180 min
(Epo-tek) (2-part) (65°C) 1 day
(24°C)
Hysol 0151 Epoxy 20.7 60 min (82°C)
(Loctite) (2-part) 120 min
(60°C) 3 days
(24°C)
2115 Epoxy 26.2 1–2 hr (65°C)
(Trabond) (2-part) 1 day (24°C)
Milbond Epoxy 14.5 180 min
(Summers) (2-part) (71°C)
Eccobond 285/ Epoxy 14.5 30–60 min
Catalyst 11 (+catalyst) (120°C) 2–4 hr
(Emerson & (100°C) 8–16
Cuming) hr (80°C)
61 (Norland) Urethane 20.7 5–10 min (100
(1-part UV W Hg lamp)
cure)
349 (Loctite) Urethane 11 20–30 sec
(1-part UV (100 W Hg
cure) lamp)
RTV142 (GE) RTV 3.8 2 days (24°C)
RTV566 (GE) RTV 3.2 1 day (24°C)
Q3-6093 (Dow RTV 1.6 6 hr (24°C)
Corning)

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

128 Appendices

Adhesive Properties (cont.)

Temp.
Adhesive CTE
%TML %CVCM range
(Mfr.) (×10−6 /° C)
(°C)

2216 B/A 102 0.77 0.04 −55 to

Gray (3M) 150

A-12 36 1.24 0.04 −55 to

(Armstrong) 170
(mix 1:1)

302-3M 60 0.7 0.01 −55 to

(Epo-tek) 125

Hysol 0151 47 1.51 0.01 −55 to

(Loctite) 100

2115 55 NA NA −70 to
(Trabond) 100

Milbond 72 0.98 0.03 −60 to

(Summers) 100

Eccobond 29 0.28 0.01 −55 to

285/ Catalyst 155
11 (Emerson
& Cuming)

61 (Norland) 240 2.36 0 −60 to

125

349 (Loctite) 80 NA NA −54 to

130

RTV142 270 0.22 0.05 −60 to

(GE) 204

RTV566 280 0.14 0.02 −115 to

(GE) 260

Q3-6093 285 NA NA −60 to

(Dow 100
Corning)

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Appendices 129

Adhesive Properties (cont.)

Adhesive Advantages/ Typical

(Mfr.) properties applications
2216 B/A High strength General purpose
Gray (3M) Low outgassing Aerospace, cryo
Metal-to glass
A-12 Flexibility/ Aerospace,
(Armstrong) strength can be military optics
(mix 1:1) controlled by mix bonding
Glass-to-metal
302-3M Clear, transmits Optical bonding
(Epo-tek) 0.35–1.55 µm Fiber-optic
potting
Hysol 0151 Clear General purpose
(Loctite) Glass-to-metal
2115 Catalyst choices Heat sinks
(Trabond) Low outgassing
Milbond Low out- Avoid high levels
(Summers) gassing/volatility of volatile
Wide temp. range condensed
materials
Eccobond 285/ Low outgassing Glass-to-metal
Catalyst 11 Wide temp. range Aerospace
(Emerson &
Cuming)
61 (Norland) Quick UV cure Optics and prism
Transmissive bonding (to glass,
from 0.4–5 µm plastic, metal)
Military/aerospace
349 (Loctite) Quick UV cure Glass-to-glass
Glass-to-metal
RTV142 (GE) Low outgassing Glass-to-metal
Good adhesion
with primer
High operational
temp.
RTV566 (GE) High adhesion High shear
Nonflowing General purpose
Allow high shear Sealant
Q3-6093 (Dow Clear Bonding optics,
Corning) laser fabrication

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

130 Appendices

Glass Properties

Trans- α
mission E (×10−6
Material nd range (GPa)
/° C)
(µm)
N-BK7 1.5168 0.2–2.5 82 7.1
Borofloat 33 1.4714 0.35–2.7 64 3.25
borosilicate
Calcium 1.4338 0.35–7.0 75.8 21.28
fluoride
Clearceram® - 1.546 0.5–1.5 92 0.02
Z (CCZ)
HS
Fused silica 1.4584 0.18–2.5 72 0.5
Germanium 4.004 (@ 10 2.0–14.0 102.7 6.1
µm)
Magnesium 1.3777 (n o ) 0.12–7.0 138 13.7 (∥)
fluoride 1.3895 (n e ) 8.9 (⊥)
P-SK57 1.5843 0.35–2.0 93 7.2
(after
molding)
Sapphire 1.7659 (n o ) 0.17–5.5 400 5.6 (∥)
1.7579 (n e ) 5.0 (⊥)
SF57 1.8467 0.4–2.3 54 8.3
N-SF57 1.8467 0.4–2.3 96 8.5
Silicon 3.148 1.2–15.0 131 2.6
(@ 10.6 µm)
ULE® 1.4828 0.3–2.3 67.6 0.03
(Corning
7972)
Zerodur® 1.5424 0.5–2.5 90.3 0.05
(Class
1)
Zinc 2.403 0.6–16 67.2 7.1
selenide (@ 10.6 µm)
(CVD)
Zinc 2.2008 0.4–14.0 74.5 6.5
selenide (@ 10 µm)
(Cleartran)

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Appendices 131

Glass Properties (cont.)

ρ dn/dT λ K
Material (g/ (absolute) ν (W (10−12
cm3 ) (×10−6 /°C) /mK) /Pa)
N-BK7 2.51 1.1 0.206 1.11 2.77
Borofloat 33 2.2 – 0.2 1.2 4
borosilicate
Calcium 3.18 –11.6 0.26 9.71 −1.53
fluoride @ 546
nm
( q1 −
q2 )
Clearceram® - 2.55 – 0.25 1.54 –

Z (CCZ) HS
Fused silica 2.2 11 0.17 1.35 3.5
Germanium 5.33 396 0.28 58.61 –
Magnesium 3.18 1.1 (n o ) 0.271 11.6 –
fluoride
P-SK57 3.01 1.5 0.249 1.01 2.17
Sapphire 3.97 13.1 0.27 46 –
SF57 5.51 6 0.248 0.62 0.02
N-SF57 3.53 –2.1 0.26 0.99 2.78
Silicon 2.33 130 0.279 137 –
ULE® 2.21 10.68 0.17 1.31 4.15
(Corning
7972)
Zerodur® 2.53 15.7 0.243 1.6 3
Zinc 5.27 61 @ 10.6 0.28 18 –1.6
selenide
(CVD)
Zinc 4.09 40 @ 10.6 0.28 27.2 –
selenide 54.3 @
(Cleartran) 0.632

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

132 Appendices

Glass Properties (cont.)

Common
Material Pros Cons applications

N-BK7 Easy to make Transmission Versatile for

high quality only in visible/ everyday
Availablity near IR optical
Inexpensive applications

Borofloat CTE matches Poor optical Windows

boro-silicate silicon transparency Thermal
Low melt stability
temp
Low cost at
high volume

Calcium Wide trans- Soft Color

fluoride mission Hydrophilic correction UV
range High CTE (windows,
High filters, prisms)
laser-damage
threshold

Clearceram® Very low Telescope

-Z (CCZ) HS CTE mirror
Available as substrates
large blanks Space

Fused silica Wide Higher dn/dT Standard

transmission than BK7 optics,
range high-power
Low CTE laser
applications

Germanium Low High density IR applications

dispersion (heavy), high
dn/ dT

Magnesium Wide Poor thermal Anti-reflection

fluoride transmission properties coating
range Hydrophillic UV optics
Birefringent Excimer laser
applications

P-SK57 Low trans- Precision

formation molding -
temp (good optics/
for molding) aspheres for
consumer
products

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Appendices 133

Glass Properties (cont.)

Common
Material Pros Cons applications

Sapphire Very hard; Difficult to Windows/

scratch machine, domes for UV,
resistant; expensive IR, and visible
wide trans-
mission
range
SF57 Low Softer Color
stress-optic material correction
coefficient
Silicon Wide IR High dn/ dT Filter
transmis- substrates, IR
sion range; windows
lower CTE
ULE® Very low Poor optical Telescope
(Corning CTE properties; mirror
7972) expensive substrates;
space
Zerodur® Very low Poor optical Telescope
CTE; properties; mirror
available as expensive substrates;
large space
blanks
Zinc Transmission Soft; IR windows
selenide in IR and expensive and lenses;
visible CO2 laser
optics for 10.6
µm
Zinc Transmission Expensive IR windows
sulfide in IR and and lenses;
visible combined
visible/IR
systems

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

134 Appendices

Metal Properties

α
E ρ (g λ (W Hard-
Material (×10 ν
(GPa) −6 /°C) /cm3 ) /mK) ness

Aluminum 68 23.6 2.7 0.33 167 Rock-

(6061-T6) well
B – 60
Beryllium 290 11.5 1.84 0.08 216 Rock-
well
B – 80
Copper C260 110 20 8.53 0.38 120 Rock-
well
F – 54
Graphite 180 0.02 1.7 11.5 –
epoxy (CFRP)
Invar® 36 148 1.3 8 0.29 10.2 Rock-
well
B – 90
Molybdenum 320 5 10.2 0.31 138 Brinell
1500
MPa
Silicon carbide 466 2.4 3.2 0.21 146 Rock-
CVD well
F – 95
Stainless steel 190 10.8 7.81 0.27 17.8 Rock-
CRES 17-4PH well
C – 35
Stainless steel 193 16 8 0.3 16.3 Rock-
CRES 316 well
B – 93
Titanium 108 8.6 4.5 0.31 16.3 Rock-
well
B – 80

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

Appendices 135

Metal Properties (cont.)

Material Pros Cons

Aluminum Inexpensive Higher CTE

(6061-T6) Easy to machine Soft material
Lightweight
Beryllium High stiffness Toxic/hazardous to
Lightweight machine
Low CTE Very expensive
Copper C260 High thermal Soft material
conductivity (quick Dense
time to thermal
equilibrium)
Graphite epoxy Young’s modulus Unstable in
(CFRP) and CTE are humidity
tunable Expensive
Strong material
High stiffness
Low CTE
Low density
Invar® Very low CTE Difficult to
machine
Dense
Unstable over
time
Molybdenum Very stiff Difficult to
machine
Silicon carbide Very hard Expensive
High rigidity material
Low CTE Expensive
High thermal processing
conductivity
Stainless steel Similar CTE to Heavier material
glass (3× weight of
Excellent corrosion aluminum)
resistance Low thermal
conductivity
Titanium High yield strength Difficult to
Very corrosion machine
resistant High cost
Similar CTE to Low thermal
glass conductivity
Stable during
machining

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

136

Equation Summary

Focus shift and lateral shift of light passing through

a plane parallel plate:

(n − 1) t∆θ p ( n − 1)
∆z = t ∆xi =
n n

Stress (normal and shear):

F V
σ= τ=
A A

Strain (normal and shear):

∆L σ τ
ε= = γ=
L E G

Young’s modulus and bulk modulus:

E E
G= K=
2(1 + ν) 3(1 − 2ν)

Wavefront retardance due to stress:

K s σt
∆Wp =
λ

Stiffness (normal and shear):

EA GA
k= k shear =
t t

Preload torque for a retaining ring on a lens:

Q 5Q
P= ≈
[D T (0.577µ M + 0.5µG )] DT

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

 137

Equation Summary

Bondline thickness necessary for an athermalized

bonded mount:

d l (α m − α l )
h= (Bayar equation)
2 (α a − β m )
dl (αm − αl ) (van Bezooijen or
h= ¡ ¢
2 αa − αm + 2ν αa − αl −αm Muench equation)
1−ν 2

Tensile and compressive stress relationship:

(1 − 2νG ) σC
σT =
3

Deviation from a thin wedge:

δ = α(n − 1)

The minimum aspect ratio for a circular window with a

pressure differential:
µ ¶1 C sp = 0.2165 (Clamped)
h ∆P 2
= C SF C sp
d σS C sp = 0.265 (Simply supported)

The thickness of a rectangular window (includes a

safety factor of 4):
"µ ¶ #1
P 3 2
h≈b Simply supported
σ ys 1 + 2 ¡ a ¢3
b

"µ ¶ #1
P 2 2
h≈b ¡ a ¢4 Clamped
σ ys 1 + 2
b

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

138

Equation Summary

Fundamental frequency for a simply supported

window:
" #1
³π´µ 1 ¶ gEh2 2
f n− circ = ¡ ¢ Circular
4 r2 12ρ 1 − ν2

³π´µ 1 ¶" #1
1 gEh2 2
f n−rect = + ¡ ¢ Rectangular
2 a2 b 2 12ρ 1 − ν2

Lamé pressure vessel equations:

¡ ¢
R 03 R 3i + 2 r 3
σm = σh = −P ³ ´
2r3 R03 − R 3i
¡ ¢
R 03 r 3 − R 3i
σr = −P ³ ´
r 3 R 03 − R 3i

RMS self weight deflection for a flat, thin mirror

(large aspect ratio) supported with any number of
discrete points:

à ! " µ ¶2 #
³ q ´ πr2 2 h
δrms = γ N 1+2
D N u

Flexural rigidity:

Eh3
D= ¡ ¢
12 1 − ν2

Natural frequency:
s
k ω0
ω0 = f0 =
m 2π

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

 139

Equation Summary

Transmissibility:

v
u ³ ´2
u
u 1 + 2 ff0 ζ
T =u
uµ ¶2
t ³ ´2
f2 f
1− f 02
+ 2f ζ
0

Miles equation:

r
π
a rms = · f 0 · Q · PSD
2

Change in length due to uniform temperature

change:

∆L = αL∆T

Thermal stress and strain:

σ = E α∆T
∆L
ε= = α∆T
L

Thermal conductivity:

QL
λ=
∆T

Thermal diffusivity:

λ
D=
ρC p

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

140

Equation Summary

Change in index with temperature:

µ
¶
0 dn
n = n+ ∆T
dT

Air index of refraction:

· ¸(£ ¡ ¢ ¤)
P ( n − 1)s 1 + 10−8 0.601 − 9.72 · 10−3 T P
( n − 1) =
96095.43 1 + 3.361 · 10−3 T
· ¸
2406147 15998
(n − 1)s = 8342.54 + ¡ ¢+¡ ¢ · 10−8
130 − σ2 38.9 − σ2

Change in focal length of a singlet with tempera-

ture:

∆ f = β f ∆T
1 dn rel
β = α−
n − 1 dT

For an athermal doublet:

φ1 ν0
= 0 1 0
φ ν1 − ν2
à !
φ2 ν0
=− 0 2 0
φ ν1 − ν2

1
ν0 =
β

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

144

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the visible and near infrared,” Appl. Optics 35, 1566–1573
(1996).
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Doyle, K. B. and M. A. Kahan, “Design strength

of optical glass,” Proc. SPIE 5176, 14–25 (2003)
[doi:10.1117/12.506610].

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Fischer, R. E., “Optimization of lens designer to manufac-

turer communications,” Proc. SPIE 1354, 506–522 (1991)
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Chapter 9 in Advanced Materials for Optics and Precision
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Mehta, P. K., “Flexural rigidity characteristics of light-

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Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

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References

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Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

 149

Index

180-deg deviation, 63 ball in seat, 23

180-deg rotation, 8 ball-and-socket stage, 30
90-deg beam deviation, 63 ball-bearing stages, 29
basic dimensions, 110
Abbe error, 31 Bayar equation, 55
absolute dn/dT , 101 beamsplitters, 67
acceleration, 97 Biot number, 101
accuracy, 28 bonding, 53, 66
active athermalization, bonding materials, 50
105 bulge effect, 15
active optics, 82 bulk modulus, 15
actuators, 27, 82
adaptive optics, 82 cell, 53
adhesion, 46 cell and set screw, 51, 74
adhesive properties, 47 cell and threaded
adhesive strength, 46 retaining ring, 51
adhesives, 46, 75 cellular-core mirror, 87
adjustable-diameter cemented doublets, 50
mount, 52 Ciddor equation, 102
adjusters, 37 circle, 107
alignment telescope, 108 circular/elliptical hinge,
all-one-material design, 45
104 clamp forces, 75
Amici roof prism, 63 clamp load, 36
analysis, 93 clamping, 53
anamorphic prism pair, 68 clamps, 67
angular deviation, 28 clean room, 117
aspect ratio, 80 clear aperture, 5
athermal doublet, 103 clearance, 54
athermalization, 103 closed-loop-control, 40
autocollimator, 109 coefficient of thermal
autostigmatic microscope, expansion (CTE), 98
109 cohesion, 46
axial motion of a lens, 2 cohesive strength, 46
axial runout, 30 commercial off-the-shelf
(COTS), 51
backlash, 31 compliance, 47
baffle threading, 56 compressive, 14
baffles, 56 concentricity, 30

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

150

Index

confidence value, 7 Federal Standard 209,

contoured-back mirror, 86 117
convergence test, 93 filters, 67
counterweight supports, finite element analysis
82 (FEA), 90
critical damping, 94 finite element method
cross-coupling, 31 (FEM), 90
cross-strip pivots, 44 flange retainer, 56
crossed-roller bearings, 29 flexural rigidity, 86, 88
cube corner prism, 63 flexure mounts, 74
cyanoacrylates, 46 flexures, 29, 41, 67
cylinder, 26 focus-adjusting wedge
system, 68
damping, 94 fused core, 87
damping factor, 94, 95
datum, 110 galling, 35
datum reference frame, general image-motion
110 equations, 4
degrees of freedom, 22, 23 geometric dimensioning
differential screw, 38 and tolerancing
dome, 72 (GD&T), 110, 112
dome stress, 73 gimble mounts, 74
double Dove prism, 64 goniometer, 30
Dove prism, 64 gothic-arch, 29
dovetail stages, 29 grade, 34

eccentricity, 30 heat flow, 100, 101

edge bands, 80 Hindle mounts, 81
Edlén equation, 102 hollow cube corner, 63
elastomeric adhesive, 55 hub mounted, 76
elastomers, 46 hyperhemispheres, 72
electroless nickel, 77 hysteresis, 31
electronic drivers, 40 h-adaptive, 91
ellipse, 107
encoder, 27 image motion, 5
envelope principle, 111 image space, 1
inverted, 8
feature control frame, 112 ISO 10110 standard, 113
features of size, 111 ISO 14644, 117

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

 151

Index

isolation, 96 maximum compressive

axial stress, 60
jitter, 1 maximum material
condition (MMC), 111
K prism, 64 mechanical axis, 108
kinematic design, 22 mesh, 91
kinematic mirror mount, metal barrel, 57
74 metering rods, 104
micrometers, 37
Lamé pressure vessel microsteppers, 40
equations, 73 Miles equation, 97
lateral adjustment, 59 mirror matrix, 10
lateral motion of a lens, 2 mirror motion, 2
lateral motion of a mirror, mirror mounted axially
2 (axis vertical), 83
lateral supports, 80 mirror mounted laterally
law of reflection, 10 (axis horizontal), 82
leaf flexure, 41 mirror substrate, 77
leaf hinge, 45 Muench equation, 55
least material condition
(LMC), 111 National Institute of
left-handed, 8 Standards and
lens, 108 Technology (NIST),
lightweight, 86 102
limit dimensions, 110 natural frequency, 94
line-of-sight (LOS) error, 1 nodal points, 91
linear stages, 29 notch hinge, 45
liquid pinning, 39 object space, 1
load capacity, 28 off-the-shelf mounts, 74
lock, 27 open-back mirror, 88
logarithmic decrement, 95 open-loop-control, 40
low-order curvature optical adhesives, 46
(power), 85 optical axis, 1, 91, 108
optimizing, 93
machined seats, 58 orientation, 8
manual drivers, 37 outgassing, 47
margin of safety, 17 overconstraint, 22
maximum amplification
at resonance, 95 parabola, 107

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152

Index

parallel leaf strips, 43 preload, 36

parallel spring guide, 43 preload force, 22, 67
parametric model, 85 preload torque, 54
parity, 8 preprocessing, 91
Pascals, 14 prism matrix formalism,
peak-to-valley (P–V), 89 65
peak-to-valley deflection, prism mount, 66
85 prisms, 62
Pechan prism, 64 property class, 34
Pechan–Schmidt prism, proportional limit, 16
65 psi, 14
Pechan–Schmidt roof, 65 push-pull screws, 37
pencil bounce trick, 8 p-adapative, 91
penta prism, 63
percent collected volatile rectilinear spring guide,
condensable material 43
(%CVCM), 47 reduced tensile modulus,
percent total mass lost 41
(%TML), 47 reduced thickness, 9
piezoelectric actuators, 40 relative dn/dT , 101
pip generator, 109 repeatability, 26, 28
plane parallel plate, 3 resolution, 28
point contacts, 25 retaining ring, 52, 58
point supports, 81 reversion, 64
Poisson effect, 15 reverted, 8
Poisson ratio, 15 rhomboid prism, 62
Porro erecting system, 65 right-angle prism, 63
Porro prism, 63 right-handed, 8
Porro prism pair, 65 rigid body, 6
positioner, 31 Risley wedge-prism
postprocessing, 93 system, 68
potted, 70, 75 rms deflection, 85
potting a lens, 55 roll, 9
power spectral density roller chains, 80
(PSD), 95 roof, 62
ppm, 16 root-mean-square (rms),
precise motions, 27 89
precision, 28 rotation, 6
precision elastic limit, 16 rotation matrices, 12

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 153

Index

rotation stages, 30 strength of the fastener,

Rule #1, 111 34
stress, 14, 25
safety factor, 17 stress-versus-strain
sandwich mirror, 88 curve, 16
sapphire, 70 structural adhesives, 46
Schmidt prism, 64 subcell mounting, 59
screws, 32 supports, 75
sealed, 57 system of constraints, 27
self-weight deflection, 82
semi-kinematic design, 24 table and clamp, 67
sensitivity, 28 tangent flexure mounts,
servos, 40 76
set, 16 tangential contact, 61
shape factor, 48 tapping, 33
sharp-corner contact, 60 temperature coefficient of
shims, 38 the refractive index,
single-strip flexure, 41 101
sling supports, 80 temperature stabilization,
snap ring, 52 100
solver, 93 tensile, 14
spacers, 58 thermal conductivity, 99
spacing adjustments, 59 thermal diffusivity, 100
sphere, 107 thermal effects, 98
spherical contact, 61 thermal gradients, 99
spring and locating pins, thermal strain, 98
67 thermal stress, 98
stages, 27, 28 thermal time constant,
stepped-barrel, 58 100
stepper motors, 40 thin dome, 73
Stewart platform, 31 thin-wedge prism, 68
stiffness, 25, 47 thread classes, 32
stiffness relations, 42, 44 threaded inserts, 35
stiffness-to-weight ratio, threaded retaining ring,
86 53
straight-barrel design, 58 three-pronged lens
strain, 14 mount, 52
strap mounts, 80 thumbscrews, 37
stray light, 56 tightening torque, 36

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154

Index

tilt stages, 30 V-groove clamp mounts,

tip/tilt stages, 30 52
tolerance zone, 110 V-mount, 80
toroidal contact, 60 van Bezooijen, 55
toroidal hinges, 45 vibration isolators, 96
transient heat flux, 100
translation, 6 washers, 36, 38
transmissibility, 96 wedge, 108
travel range, 28 whiffle tree mounts, 81
tunnel diagram, 9 windows, 69
wobble, 30
ultimate strength, 16
UNC, 32 yaw, 9
underconstrained, 22 yield strength, 16
UNF, 32 Young’s modulus, 15
Unified Thread Standard
(UTS), 32 z axis, 91

Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis

 Katie Schwertz received her BS
in Optics from the University of
Rochester Institute of Optics in
2008 and an MS in Optical Sciences
from the University of Arizona in
2010. Her graduate work focused
on optomechanics, during which
she completed the report Useful
Estimations and Rules of Thumb for
Optomechanics under the guidance
of Jim Burge. She currently works
as an optomechanical designer for Edmund Optics at their
Tucson Design Center.

Jim Burge is a Professor of

Optical Sciences and Astronomy at
the University of Arizona, leading
research and curriculum develop-
ment in the areas of optomechani-
cal engineering, optical-systems en-
gineering, and optical manufactur-
ing. Dr. Burge has a BS degree from
Ohio State University in Engineer-
ing Physics with Mechanical Engi-
neering, and MS and PhD degrees in
Optical Sciences from the University of Arizona.