Development of low-cost optical mounts for large-scale multiplexed instruments

This paper details the design, prototyping and testing of several types of low-cost semi-kinematic optical mounts at NRC-Herzberg from a practical standpoint. Optical mounts tested cover a range of types intended to be easy to manufacture, quick to assemble and suitable for various instrument environments. Assembly repeatability in tip/tilt/focus, assembly time, and wavefront error due to stress birefringence (simulated) are quantified and results presented. Thermal stability, suitability for use in cryogenic environments and ease of manufacture/assembly are also analyzed. Various qualitative metrics are also discussed. Quantitative and qualitative metrics are discussed and presented in a design table to aid in directly comparing lens mounting concepts. Results are also interpreted to determine the direction of future R&D efforts towards creating large-scale, multiplexed instruments.