Sensitivity evaluation of mounting optics using elastomer and bipod flexures

Paul V. Mammini; Alison A. Nordt; Buck Holmes; David M. Stubbs

doi:10.1117/12.509739

27 October 2003 Sensitivity evaluation of mounting optics using elastomer and bipod flexures

Paul V. Mammini, Alison A. Nordt, Buck Holmes, David M. Stubbs

Proceedings Volume 5176, Optomechanics 2003; (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.509739
Event: Optical Science and Technology, SPIE's 48th Annual Meeting, 2003, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

A sensitivity evaluation of mounting 100mm optics using elastomer or bipod flexures was completed to determine the relative effects of geometry, structure, material, thermal and vibration environment as they relate to optical distortion. Detailed analysis was conducted using various finite element-modeling methods. Parts were built and the results were verified by conducting brassboard tests. What makes this evaluation noteworthy is the two vastly different approaches, and how they both exhibited athermal properties and minimized optical distortion. Materials were carefully selected while the geometry and structure were optimized through analytical iteration. The elastomeric optical mount consists of 12 equally spaced pads of RTV placed around the circumference of the optic. These pads were sized to maximize stiffness and minimize surface deformations. The surrounding material was appropriately selected in order to contribute to an athermal design. The bipod flexure optical mount uses three flexures cut from a single piece of material. Each flexure is a bipod oriented to comply radially with changes in temperature. This design is monolithic and uses conventional epoxy at the optical interface. The result is a very stiff athermal design. This paper covers both opto-mechanical designs, as well as analytical results from computer modeling and brassboard tests.

Citation Download Citation

Paul V. Mammini, Alison A. Nordt, Buck Holmes, and David M. Stubbs "Sensitivity evaluation of mounting optics using elastomer and bipod flexures", Proc. SPIE 5176, Optomechanics 2003, (27 October 2003); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.509739

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