3 ms·

Thanks. Can someone explain what these are typically used for or link to commercially available variants?

by ghayes 2y ago

abdullahkhalids 2y ago
Remember, constructive and destructive superposition of waves? Setting up a tabletop optics experiments is mostly optimizing alignment between different components (lasers, lenses and optical detectors etc), so you get the maximum power or the right kind of superposition. Alignment is linear (get the right distance between two components) or rotational (right angle). So you can build these linear/rotational mounts that will move/rotate your components precisely based on computer commands. You can probably buy off the shelf robotics components off Alibaba that are better and cheaper at the same time. But I think distributed manufacturing is way cooler.
deleted 2y ago
[deleted]
sitkack 2y ago
optical stages and alignment, sending beams of light to specific locations. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_table https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_table Optical suppliers are https://www.edmundoptics.com/ https://www.edmundoptics.com/ (highly recommend ordering their catalog) https://www.newport.com/g/optical-tables https://www.newport.com/g/optical-tables https://www.thorlabs.com/newgrouppage9.cfm?objectgroup_id=7091 https://www.thorlabs.com/newgrouppage9.cfm?objectgroup_id=70... Youtube channels on optics https://www.huygensoptics.com/ https://www.huygensoptics.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@BreakingTaps https://www.youtube.com/@BreakingTaps
- FL410 2y ago
  Man, Edmund Scientific is a throwback. They used to have an awesome surplus store in NJ full of all kinds of nerd stuff.
  - sitkack 2y ago
    They are still around as https://www.scientificsonline.com/ https://www.scientificsonline.com/ (Edmund's Scientific) though it is mostly k-8 science toys. https://sciplus.com/ https://sciplus.com/ (Chicagoland) https://www.surplusgizmos.com/ https://www.surplusgizmos.com/ (Intel and Portland electronics surplus)
numpad0 2y ago
I believe these are used for laser and light experiments on an optical bench - a heavy desk with a pegboard-like top surface that holds lolipop-like lenses on sticks. Thorlabs is the Sigma-Aldrich or McMaster-Carr, or, Adobe, of the field.

Thanks. Can someone explain what these are typically used for or link to commercially available variants?

by ghayes 2y ago

Thanks. Can someone explain what these are typically used for or link to commercially available variants?

Remember, constructive and destructive superposition of waves? Setting up a tabletop optics experiments is mostly optimizing alignment between different components (lasers, lenses and optical detectors etc), so you get the maximum power or the right kind of superposition. Alignment is linear (get the right distance between two components) or rotational (right angle). So you can build these linear/rotational mounts that will move/rotate your components precisely based on computer commands. You can probably buy off the shelf robotics components off Alibaba that are better and cheaper at the same time. But I think distributed manufacturing is way cooler.

deleted 2y ago

[deleted]

sitkack 2y ago

optical stages and alignment, sending beams of light to specific locations. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_table https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_table Optical suppliers are https://www.edmundoptics.com/ https://www.edmundoptics.com/ (highly recommend ordering their catalog) https://www.newport.com/g/optical-tables https://www.newport.com/g/optical-tables https://www.thorlabs.com/newgrouppage9.cfm?objectgroup_id=7091 https://www.thorlabs.com/newgrouppage9.cfm?objectgroup_id=70... Youtube channels on optics https://www.huygensoptics.com/ https://www.huygensoptics.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@BreakingTaps https://www.youtube.com/@BreakingTaps

FL410 2y ago
Man, Edmund Scientific is a throwback. They used to have an awesome surplus store in NJ full of all kinds of nerd stuff.
- sitkack 2y ago
  They are still around as https://www.scientificsonline.com/ https://www.scientificsonline.com/ (Edmund's Scientific) though it is mostly k-8 science toys. https://sciplus.com/ https://sciplus.com/ (Chicagoland) https://www.surplusgizmos.com/ https://www.surplusgizmos.com/ (Intel and Portland electronics surplus)

numpad0 2y ago

I believe these are used for laser and light experiments on an optical bench - a heavy desk with a pegboard-like top surface that holds lolipop-like lenses on sticks. Thorlabs is the Sigma-Aldrich or McMaster-Carr, or, Adobe, of the field.