Abstract

The advantages and limitations of several potentially cost-effective manufacturing technologies are discussed. Design features unique to the various technologies and their relevant materials are identified, the application of optical design programs to desensitize manufacturing tolerances is demonstrated, and specific examples are described. The design process, from the specification through tolerancing and component testing, is considered. The emphasis of this discussion will be on the application of cost-effective manufacturing technologies to the design of optical systems. Hybrid glass/plastic machine-vision objective lenses, photofabricated lens arrays for imaging and energy transport systems, and diamond-turned null reflectors for interferometric testing are cited as examples of competitive optical systems design.

© 1990 Optical Society of America