Opto-Mechanical Design

At Avantier Inc, our experts in opto-mechanical design are available to provide design services as well as troubleshooting help and ongoing support. We understand that every environment is unique, and we want to work with you to ensure your assembly will perform as desired in your application.

What is Opto-Mechanical Design?

No optical component is used in a vacuum, and opto-mechanical design is the science of positioning optical components with or without mechanical components to create an interconnected system. It is the bedrock on which every optical device used today is built, from microscopes to interferometers to high powered laser system

Opto-Mechanical Design at Avantier

Our electro optical and opto mechanical design specialists take advantage of a  thorough knowledge of optics, mechanical systems and electronics to design high-performing systems that function as intended in a target environment. Their diverse skill sets enable them to create optical assemblies that are optimized on every level. 

When a project for optomechanical design is requested, our engineers will perform a thorough problem analysis. When designing and manufacturing opto-mechanical systems there are several things we keep in mind:

• Footprint: What are the space constraints of your application, and how much room do we have to work in? Is there a weight limit? While some optical designs may  have flexibility here, many others have tight restrictions.
• Budget: Are you hoping for a low budget solution that can be mass produced, or is your aim a single precision instrument that can outperform any competitor? We pride ourselves on our cost effective solutions, but sometimes you may have to choose between higher performance and lower cost.
• Environmental factors: What effect will stress, temperature, shock, or vibrations have on the function of the optical device?
• Assembly/Disassembly: Will this instrument be assembled once, then used as is, or will it be subject to repeated assembly and disassembly?
• Stray Light: Is stray light a potential problem for this application, and will it be an issue in the expected environment? In the design phase precautions can be taken which block stray light from entering or exiting the system.
• Motion and Alignment: Will certain components require regular adjustments during use? If so, the optomechanical design may need mechanical components to make these adjustments smooth and hassle free.

Your Opto-Mechanical Design Package

While we are open to your custom needs, an opto mechnical design package typically consists of three sets of drawings which contain all the specifications for your assembly as well as the instructions needed to manufacture it.  This will include:

• Lens drawings, i.e., a diagram and spec sheet for every lens and optical component included in the system, drafted according to ISO standards
• Layout drawings, which show the full assembly of all components of the final product, both mechanical and optical. A layout drawing will also give all details such as dimensions and individual positional tolerances, and give a full list of all elements in the system, both mechanical and optical.
• Part drawings for mechanical elements of the system, with dimensions, tolerances, and any other information necessary to create the part. Mechanical parts that might be incorporated in an optical system include, but are not limited to, spacers, adjustment mechanics, and lens barrels.

If you’d like to request an optomechanical design or need help troubleshooting an existing assembly, please contact us. We’d love to schedule a free consultation or request for quote and find out how our optics expertise can best serve you.