Compensation

Different coefficients of thermal expansion in optics, mounts and connecting components must be managed so that centering and optical performance are maintained over the specified temperature range.

Requirement

In precision instruments, even small positional changes or mechanically induced stress can affect image quality. Temperature changes act differently on different materials and must therefore be considered in optical design, tolerancing and mechanical engineering.

Design Objective

An appropriate mount must position optical elements in a defined manner, limit mechanical loads and accommodate thermally induced differential expansion without creating unacceptable decenter or stress.

System Approach

DGE combines optical sensitivity analysis, material selection, mechanical design and finite-element simulation. The key is not a single component but the behavior of the complete system under temperature, gravity and mechanical loads.