Research and Development at OPTEC:
Leading Innovation in Optical Systems Design
At OPTEC, we specialize in cutting-edge research and development (R&D) in optical systems, offering unparalleled expertise for space, defense, commercial, and medical applications.
Our R&D process ensures precision, reliability, and performance excellence, underpinned by a comprehensive, phased approach:
- 1. Feasibility Phase
- 2. Design Phase
- 3. Optical Simulations and Advanced FE Analyses
- 4. Validation and Verification Phase
- 5. Test Prescription and Arrangements
1 FEASIBILITY PHASE
The journey begins with a thorough assessment of the project's goals, constraints, and technical requirements. This phase involves:
- Concept Exploration: Evaluating innovative optical designs and emerging technologies.
- Requirement Analysis: Collaborating with clients to establish clear performance, environmental, and operational specifications.
- Preliminary Simulations: Utilizing advanced modeling tools to assess potential system performance and technical risks.
- Risk Assessment: Identifying challenges related to materials, manufacturing, and integration while proposing mitigation strategies.
Outcome: A comprehensive feasibility report outlining the technical path forward, expected performance benchmarks, and project viability.
2 DESIGN PHASE
This phase transforms feasibility studies into actionable designs, focusing on innovation, precision, and alignment with customer needs.
- System Architecture Development: Creating detailed blueprints for optical, mechanical, and electronic components.
- Iterative Prototyping: Employing rapid prototyping and computational analysis to refine designs.
- Material and Component Selection: Choosing optimal materials to ensure performance in harsh environments, such as space or military operations.
- Integration Strategy: Designing for seamless integration with existing systems or frameworks.
Outcome: A robust, optimized design ready for validation and verification.
3 OPTICAL SIMULATIONS AND ADVANCED FE ANALYSES-
To ensure the design’s robustness and functionality, OPTEC leverages state-of-the-art simulation and analysis techniques.
- Optical Simulations: Employing high-fidelity ray tracing and wavefront analysis to predict and optimize system performance under varying conditions.
- Straylight Analysis: Minimizing unintended light scatter to enhance system efficiency and ensure clear, accurate imaging or detection.
- Finite Element Structural Simulations: Assessing mechanical stability under static and dynamic loads, ensuring resilience in extreme operational environments.
- Thermo-Elastic Simulations: Evaluating the effects of thermal expansion and contraction on optical performance, critical for space and high-temperature applications.
- STOP Analysis (Structural-Thermal-Optical Performance): Integrating structural, thermal, and optical factors to ensure optimal performance under real-world conditions.
Outcome: Comprehensive insight into system performance, enabling preemptive adjustments and risk mitigation before physical prototyping.
4 VALIDATION AND VERIFICATION PHASE
Ensuring the system meets all functional, performance, and regulatory requirements is central to OPTEC’s V&V phase.
- Model Validation: Comparing simulation results with empirical data to verify theoretical models.
- Performance Testing: Evaluating system behavior under various conditions, such as temperature extremes, vibrations, or radiation.
- Compliance Verification: Ensuring designs adhere to industry standards, including ISO, MIL-STD, and FDA requirements, depending on the application.
- Iterative Refinement: Addressing discrepancies or deficiencies to optimize system performance.
Outcome: A validated design that has been rigorously tested to meet and exceed all expectations.
5 TEST PRESCRIPTION AND ARRANGEMENTS
OPTEC’s expertise extends to defining, organizing, and conducting comprehensive test programs:
- Test Planning: Developing detailed protocols to evaluate optical performance, durability, and reliability.
- Custom Test Facilities: Leveraging state-of-the-art labs and simulation environments tailored to specific needs, including vacuum chambers, thermal testing, and precision metrology.
- End-to-End Testing: Covering component-level evaluations to full system integration tests.
- Collaborative Execution: Working closely with stakeholders during testing phases to ensure alignment with mission objectives.
Outcome: A thoroughly tested and validated optical system, ready for deployment in critical applications.
Testing, Calibration and Straylight Analysis
Optec is a leader in providing comprehensive testing, calibration, and straylight analysis services for optical components and systems. With a commitment to precision and innovation, Optec ensures that every system meets the most demanding industry and research standards.
Optical Simulation
In the field of optics, particularly for space and high-end imaging applications, straylight analysis is essential.
Optec provides:
- Ghost analysis
- Scattered light analysis
- Diffraction analysis
- Development of straylight countermeasures (e.g., baffle design, coating recommendations)
Application Fields:
- Space Optics:
- In-field and out-of-field straylight analysis
- Evaluation of straylight sources such as the Sun, Earth, and Moon
- Optical Industry:
- Straylight analysis for high-end imaging systems, including cameras and microscopes
ISO5 Metrology Rooms
Optec provides industries and institutions with its ISO5 clean rooms and standard environments, equipped with state-of-the-art optical instrumentation to ensure the highest precision measurements.
- Thermal and Vacuum Testing:
Inside the ISO5 cleanroom is a new TVAC (Thermal Vacuum) chamber, designed for thermal vacuum and outgassing tests under space-like conditions. This advanced system minimises contamination and ensures extremely accurate measurements.
In addition, a thermal chamber with precise temperature and humidity control, located in a dedicated ISO5 area, ensures optimal conditions for rigorous environmental testing.
This advanced configuration allows critical tests to be performed with maximum reliability, meeting the needs of the most demanding industries.
Key Instrumentation
Optec continues to lead in quality assurance with services such as:
- WFE and MTF evaluation
- Absolute measurement of plano and spherical surfaces
- Transmissivity and reflectivity efficiency analysis
- Focal length measurements
- Interferometer: Zygo Verifire XPZ
- Spectrophotometers: Beckman DU800, PerkinElmer Lambda900
- Focometers: Trioptics OptiSpheric, Moller-Wedel MELOS 500
- Spectrogoniometer: Moller-Wedel Goniometer-Spectrometer II
- Microscopy and Densitometry: Vision Engineering LYNX/S/48RR/10P, VIP-DENS
- CMM Bridge - ARES
Optec has recently upgraded its facilities with advanced instrumentation and new environments to support cutting-edge research and industry applications. Highlights include:
- TRIOPTICS OC 101 LWIR DUAL: Specialized in centration measurements within the visible and LWIR (longwave infrared) ranges, including the ability to measure air gaps between lenses.
- TRIOPTICS OC300 DUAL: Optimized for visible spectrum analysis, providing advanced centration measurements (tilt and decenter), air gap measurements, focal length, back focal length, radius of curvature, and on-axis MTF.
- LWIR Collimator: Designed for calibrating lenses in the longwave infrared range, featuring a blackbody and motorized target wheel to simulate distances other than infinity.
Calibration & Alignment
Optec offers advanced calibration services for optical systems, leveraging its extensive expertise and cutting-edge instrumentation. Key capabilities include:
- Calibration and alignment of sensors and other instruments using real-time methods and proprietary software.
- Calibration of complex optical systems, including dioptric and catadioptric setups, utilizing technologies refined through the development of Optec’s own products.
- Alignment and gluing of multispectral lenses and multichannel cameras, performed in ISO 6 and ISO 5 certified clean rooms.
The cleanroom environment, annually certified to ISO 5 standards, has been specially upgraded to meet the rigorous requirements of space-compliant projects. This black cleanroom minimizes scattering and unwanted reflections from walls, ceilings, optical tables, and instruments, ensuring highly reliable optical measurements.
Partnering for Success
Optec combines state-of-the-art technology with unmatched expertise to deliver precise testing, calibration, and straylight solutions. Our facilities and services are open for collaborations, ensuring that every project benefits from our dedication to excellence and innovation.
For more information or inquiries about our services, please contact us at info@optec.eu
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Via Mantegna 34 - 20015 Parabiago (MI) - ITALY
Phone +39 0331021815 - Fax +39 0331495091 - info@optec.eu Plant 2:
Via Inveruno 103/C - 20038 Busto Garolfo (MI) ITALY
Phone +39 0331021815 - Fax +39 0331495091 - info@optec.eu Plant 3:
Via Inveruno 99 - 20038 Busto Garolfo (MI) ITALY
Phone +39 0331021815 - Fax +39 0331495091 - info@optec.eu
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