Freeform Telescopes: Mastering the Art of Optical Tolerancing & Alignment

Freeform telescope designs have advantages — increased aperture and field of view, reduced obscuration, and more flexible packaging geometries — that make them the first choice for cutting-edge imaging applications. However, there is a cost in designing a system with mirrors that lack symmetry and are tilted and decentered: greater complexity in fabrication, alignment, and testing. The tolerancing process evaluates how systems perform as built with the goal of maximizing performance while minimizing fabrication complexity and its associated cost.

This webinar surveys the tolerance types, alignment schemes, and performance metrics that matter for freeform telescopes. Together, these topics will help you to master the art of optical tolerancing and alignment.

About the presenter
David Lippman, Ph.D., is a senior imaging systems engineer on the Engineering Services team for Keysight Optical Design Engineering. He is an expert in the design, tolerancing, and analysis of high-performance imaging systems. Lippman has experience designing optical systems in use across industries ranging from semiconductors, automotive, and consumer electronics to aerospace and defense. At Keysight, he also contributes to the development of the optical design software CODE V. He is a co-author of the textbook Learning Lens Design from Rudolf Kingslake: Problems and Solutions, published by SPIE Press.