Physics:Optoform

Optoform is an optical bench system or cage system that provides multiple opto-mechanical components that may be assembled in various configurations to construct a variety of optical instruments. Unlike traditional cubic optical systems, Optoform employs a concentric bore pattern that allows interconnection between mounts using rods along their optical axis, or at right angles via corner connectors. The circular patterns allow for easier assembly of optical components in a more natural fashion with other optical components, such as lenses. These bores could also utilize linear bearings, and micrometers for precise linear, and X-Y positioning of optical elements.

The word Optoform is derived from optical functionality+form. Just like Lego blocks or an Erector Set, experiments are done with form in mind, and the functionality follows. For example, a microscope built with Optoform both functions and looks like a microscope.

Optical experiments which are set up on traditional optical tables are far from becoming usable instruments. Optoform allows optical engineers and researchers to make self-contained instrument-like results, without having to machine any custom parts.

History, and advancement of the Optical Erector Set

The advancement of optical erector set perhaps began with educational toys designed for children. These injection molded plastic kits allowed the child to construct various optical instruments such as a Telescope, microscope, and spectroscope. Perhaps the most advanced erector set for optics was introduced by Spindler & Hoyer in Germany called: Microbench, patent number 2636657 filed on July 13, 1976. It consisted of 40x40 mm square mounting plates with 25 or 30 mm holes at the center, and four 6 mm bores around the edges. If four 6 mm rods were secured on the corners, a second mounting plate could slide along the rods, and secured at any point via set screws. Furthermore, by securing individual lenses within each mounting plate, a telescope could be constructed. A larger system was introduced by Spindler & Hoyer for constructing larger optical experiments: Patent number 3,945,600 filed on Mar 23, 1976. This was called Macrobench which consisted of 150x150 mm mounting plates capable of securing up to 110 mm optical elements. The rods were of course bigger (20 mm in diameter), and were hollow inside. By combining these mounting plates much higher precision optical experiments could have been constructed such as an interferometer, etc.

A later system was introduced in 1994 called Optoform invented by Ali Afshari, Patent number PCT/US1994/011472 filed on October 20, 2004. This design consisted of round mounting plates, and it allowed cost effective manufacturing by CNC lathes with live tooling. With a circular shape, Optoform was less labor-intensive to manufacture. (This is in contrast with the traditional square mounts of prior art, which require all four sides to be machined in order to achieve precise right angles at all corners.) While a square shape limits the angles at which the plates can be mounted together, the circular shape allows the plates to be mounted at many angles.

Mounting plates are conventionally fastened together by means of screws. Therefore, all four sides of square plates have to be provided with some threaded bores, whether it is(the bores) used in every assembly or not. Further, the plates are joined together with corner connectors, which must have an equal number of bores through which the screws are secured. In Optoform, the threaded bores are placed in the corner connectors, and therefore, it can be utilised only when it's needed. This scheme further reduces the manufacturing cost. In conventional square design, optical components must be held at four points since the retaining screws must be placed on each side of the plates. In Optoform, the three-point positional adjustment allows easier removal of the optical component.

In 1995, Thorlabs, simplified the Microbench design by removing the coner-connector bores, and offered it at a cheaper price. It was called the Cage System. This made the product much more widely used around the world. Today, Microbench, Optoform, and the cage system are utilized in many educational, and research labs for rapid prototyping of new ideas, and optical setups. Because the "Self Holding" nature of these products, they are ideal for marketing custom optical instrumentation at much lover cost.

Applications

Optoform has been used by well known research centres and universities around the world to construct spectroscopy experiments, third harmonic generation microscopy, fibre optics setups, biomedical instruments, eye surgery apparatus, telescopes, stellar interferometers, imaging systems, vacuum experiments, etc.

Inventor

Optoform system was invented by Ali Afshari, born in Kashan, Iran. He was granted a PCT patent in 1998. Prior to inventing Optoform, he worked at Teledyne systems, Nasa's Jet Propulsion Laboratory on the Hubble Space Telescope, and the Cassini project. He is the author of a number of books on Opto-mechanical design of cameras.

External links

• AFoptical.com
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