Elliptically framed tip-tilt mirror optimized for stellar tracking

James H. Clark III; F. Ernesto Penado; Jeremy Petak

doi:10.1117/12.2187559

2 September 2015 Elliptically framed tip-tilt mirror optimized for stellar tracking

James H. Clark III, F. Ernesto Penado, Jeremy Petak

Proceedings Volume 9573, Optomechanical Engineering 2015; 95730B (2015) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2187559
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2015, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

We compare a design innovation of an elliptically framed tip-tilt optical tracker with an existing circularly framed tracker for the Navy Precision Optical Interferometer. The tracker stabilizes a 12.5 cm stellar beam on a target hundreds of meters away and requires an increase in operational frequency. We reduced mass and size by integrating an elliptical mirror as one of the rotating components, which eliminated a rotating frame. We used the same materials as the existing tracker; however, light-weighted both the aluminum frame and Zerodur® mirror. We generated a computer-aided design model, converted it into a finite element model and performed modal analysis on two load cases. In load case 1, we tied down three points on the bottom surface of the tracker corresponding to the tie-down points of the comparison tracker. This reveals a first mode (lowest) frequency of 140 Hz, a factor of two over the baseline tracker’s first mode frequency of 67 Hz. In load case 2, we constrained four additional points inboard of the corners of the tracker base, for a total of seven tie-downs, simulating a firmly bolted and secured mount. The first mode of vibration for this case is 211 Hz, an increase over load case 1 by a factor of 1.5 and more than three times the fundamental frequency of the existing tracker. We conclude that these geometrical changes with the additional tie-down bolts are a viable solution path forward to improve steering speed and recommend a continuation with this effort.

Citation Download Citation

James H. Clark III, F. Ernesto Penado, and Jeremy Petak "Elliptically framed tip-tilt mirror optimized for stellar tracking", Proc. SPIE 9573, Optomechanical Engineering 2015, 95730B (2 September 2015); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2187559

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KEYWORDS

Mirrors

Aluminum

Computer aided design

Actuators

Optical tracking

Telescopes

Solid modeling

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