Abstract: An optical mount with a reversible face plate. The face plate supports an optical element. The face plate is reversible so that an optical element can be loaded from either the front or the rear of the optical mount. The mount includes a back plate and one or more actuators. The actuators can be manipulated to translate and/or tilt the face plate and the optical element. The actuators may engage flat pads attached to the face plate. The flat pads can be inserted into apertures on either side of the face plate. This allows the face plate to be reversed so that the optical element can be either front or rear loaded. The face plate may also have grooves located on each side of the plate to allow spring retention pins to be retained in either a front load or rear load position. The reversible feature of the face plate provides a single product that allows for both front loading and rear loading of an optical element.

Abstract: A translation table that has a spring biased dovetail bearing. The table includes a first element with a dovetail groove and a second element with a dovetail bearing located in the groove. The table further includes one or more springs that press the bearing into the groove. The spring force may be selected to eliminate lateral movement between the first and second elements while minimizing the friction of the bearing. The spring force may be varied by a screw(s) that engages the spring(s).

Abstract: A translation table with a pair of bearing assemblies located between a first element and a second element. Each bearing assembly has a pair of roller bearings located at one end of a bearing separator strip, and another pair of roller bearings located at an opposite end of the separator strip. There are no bearings located between the outer pairs of roller bearings. Providing a roller bearing assembly with no roller bearings in the inner portion of the separator strip creates a relatively stiff bearing assembly.

Abstract: Precision optical mounts that carry and reliably position an optical element so that a plurality of such optical mounts can be arranged in a compact and optically efficient system, wherein opposing optical elements are held in relatively close proximity to one another without introducing distortion. A stationary back plate is arranged in spaced facing alignment with a face plate for importing a tilting or translational movement to the face plate and to an optical element that is to be carried thereby. The optical mount may be disposed in vertical, upstanding alignment with respect to a support surface to position the optical element (e.g. a mirror) to receive a beam of optical energy. In the alternative, the optical mount may function as a mounting platform to be disposed in horizontal alignment with respect to the support surface so that an optical element (e.g. a prism) can be supported thereupon.

Abstract: A peg system for joining modular optical translation stage assemblies and other optical test bench hardware that can allow an operator to build multiple types of translation stages and other optical test bench hardware configurations. The assemblies may include a peg that can couple a first translation stage to a second translation stage. The assembly may also have a fastener that secures the peg to the second translation stage. A third translation stage can be coupled to the second translation stage. The assembly allows an operator to build either an x-axis stage, an xy-axis stage or an xyz-axis stage. A disk or cylindrical post or post holder or other optical test bench hardware may also be used with the peg system to provide rotational degrees of freedom.

Abstract: Precision optical mounts that carry and reliably position an optical element so that a plurality of such optical mounts can be arranged in a compact and optically efficient system, wherein opposing optical elements are held in relatively close proximity to one another without introducing distortion. A stationary back plate is arranged in spaced facing alignment with a face plate for importing a tilting or translational movement to the face plate and to an optical element that is to be carried thereby. The optical mount may be disposed in vertical, upstanding alignment with respect to a support surface to position the optical element (e.g. a mirror) to receive a beam of optical energy. In the alternative, the optical mount may function as a mounting platform to be disposed in horizontal alignment with respect to the support surface so that an optical element (e.g. a prism) can be supported thereupon.

Abstract: Precision optical mounts that carry and reliably position an optical element so that a plurality of such optical mounts can be arranged in a compact and optically efficient system, wherein opposing optical elements are held in relatively close proximity to one another without introducing distortion. A stationary back plate is arranged in spaced facing alignment with a face plate for importing a tilting or translational movement to the face plate and to an optical element that is to be carried thereby. The optical mount may be disposed in vertical, upstanding alignment with respect to a support surface to position the optical element (e.g. a mirror) to receive a beam of optical energy. In the alternative, the optical mount may function as a mounting platform to be disposed in horizontal alignment with respect to the support surface so that an optical element (e.g. a prism) can be supported thereupon.