Optomechanical design, engineering, and assembly: 60 years of evolution

Abstract

We recall how techniques for optical and mechanical design, engineering and fabrication have evolved during the 60-year period since the end of World War II. Considerations include some ways in which improvements in materials availability and in methods for design, analysis, tolerancing for fabrication and alignment, and hardware assembly, inspection and environmental testing may have facilitated development of increasingly sophisticated optical instruments.