Faster optical alignment with adjustable, re-lockable, ruggedized, and kinematic (ARRK) mounting

Steven R. Gillmer; Andrew J. Guzman; Joseph Flaherty; Kevin E. Sullivan; Peter Kull; Ava Thrasher; James B. Johnson; Christopher D. Roll

doi:10.1117/12.2682129

28 September 2023 Faster optical alignment with adjustable, re-lockable, ruggedized, and kinematic (ARRK) mounting

Steven R. Gillmer, Andrew J. Guzman, Joseph Flaherty, Kevin E. Sullivan, Peter Kull, Ava Thrasher, James B. Johnson, Christopher D. Roll

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 12669, Optomechanical Engineering 2023; 1266908 (2023) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2682129
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2023, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The alignment of precision optical assemblies can be time-consuming and labor-intensive, particularly for ap- plications that need to maintain performance through harsh environments. To achieve a rugged design, op- tomechanical elements are frequently aligned and locked in place with shims that are ground and lapped to extremely tight tolerances. The grinding and lapping process can take days, weeks, or even months in select instances that require extremely tight tolerances for alignment. In this work, we present an alternative actua- tion and lock approach that can shorten alignment times without sacrificing ruggedness or alignment resolution. The faster optical alignment is achieved with an Adjustable, Re-lockable, Ruggedized, and Kinematic (ARRK) mount principle. Select experiments demonstrate the working principle of an ARRK mount, evaluate ease-of-use, and demonstrate stability through a random vibration environment. Our results suggest ARRK mounting as a promising approach for fast, robust optical mounting in applications that need to withstand vibration.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

Steven R. Gillmer, Andrew J. Guzman, Joseph Flaherty, Kevin E. Sullivan, Peter Kull, Ava Thrasher, James B. Johnson, and Christopher D. Roll "Faster optical alignment with adjustable, re-lockable, ruggedized, and kinematic (ARRK) mounting", Proc. SPIE 12669, Optomechanical Engineering 2023, 1266908 (28 September 2023); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2682129

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