Tutorials

This tutorial introduces opto-mechanical component design basics and will familiarize the reader with the issues that need consideration in the selection of the most commonly used tabletop components. It emphasizes practical issues, not mathematical derivations.

The Picomotor's actuator relies on the basic difference between dynamic and static friction. A graphic example of this is the “tablecloth trick,” in which a quick pull of the cloth leaves the dishes on the table (low dynamic friction), while a slow pull of the tablecloth ends up pulling the dishes off the table (high static friction and a big mess!).

Building a swept-wavelength system requires a tunable laser source, the device under test, power sensors, and a data-acquisition system. The swept-wavelength method for high-resolution wavelength characterization of passive fiber-optic components can characterize components more quickly than traditional methods—measurements that used to take minutes or even hours can now be made in seconds.

The function of a translation stage is to constrain motion to a desired direction. For a linear stage, the desired motion is along an ideal straight line. Any motion in constrained directions will contribute to deviation from the ideal trajectory and/or position.