February 12, 2017 Photonics West 2017 Introductions
It was great to meet many new and old friends in San Francisco at Photonics West. Tradeshows give all of us an opportunity to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing us and discovering how working together we can help each other. Photonics West was no exception. This year we introduced the latest member of ÄPRE, Don… read more »
December 14, 2016 Piotr Szwaykowsky’s APOMA Presentation
Rarely are errors due to the interferometer itself considered when measuring optics with a laser Fizeau interferometer. Piotr gives examples of common and significant errors generated in the interferometer. Click to download his presentation with notes here. Let us know what you think! Retrace Errors Below is just an example of the error sources explored in Piotr’s presentation
December 13, 2016 ÄPRE Laser Focus World Article Published
This month (November 2016) Laser Focus World published our paper “Three Simple Tests to Assess Interferometer Performance“. Let us know what you think. Also get Äpre’s test target that is required to assess the imaging performance of your interferometer. Results of the Retrace Error Test in a Generation II Interferometer Shown here is a Generation II… read more »
December 13, 2016 Interferometer Imaging Test Target
ÄPRE is offering a free interferometer image resolution test target. The target is simple to use without requiring complicated and expensive phase stepped optics. Simply place the 1-cycle/mm test target in front of your interferometer and look at its image on your camera. If you cannot see these lines, you cannot measure surfaces to these… read more »
September 7, 2016 Fizeau Interferometer: Fringes? Waves? Measured? Displayed?
The basic interferometry units of Fringe and Waves can get confused. This confusion leads to out of specification parts shipping and good parts scraped. This blog addresses fringes versus waves. Examples reference ÄPRE REVEAL software, similar controls are available in other interferometer analysis software. Note In this text we will use the terms “display fringes”… read more »
June 28, 2016 Fizeau Interforometer: To Zoom or Not to Zoom…
In this blog we explore the camera array size required to accurately measure Zernike polynomials in a laser Fizeau interferometer, and thus determine when a zoom system is important. (Hint: Zoom is a historical artifact) Is a Zoom System Required? Recently we were asked to provide a system with 4X zoom imaging to accommodate a 25… read more »
June 13, 2016 S100|HR Introduced at Optatec
S100|HR Fizeau Interferometer Introduced The new S100|HR laser Fizeau interferometer was introduced at the Optatec tradeshow in Frankfurt Germany this past week. We are excited by the industry’s response to a high-performance system offered at a fair price, and the continued interest in interferometer upgrades. The S100|HR was displayed measuring in the vibration insensitive mode and… read more »
April 16, 2016 Vibration Tolerant Interferometry
This blog post discusses improvements in phase shifting algorithms for increased accuracy. From the earliest days of phase shifting interferometry (PSI) phase ripple has been a problem. Ripple in the phase data follows the live fringe pattern but with twice the fringe frequency (ripple with the same frequency as the fringes can also appear and… read more »
April 6, 2016 Fizeau Interferometer: Buy or Upgrade; what are the purchasing options?
Fizeau Interferometer Buyers Guide 9 This blog is about the performance and price options for laser Fizeau interferometers Up to this point we have been discussing how various applications require specific interferometer sensor configurations and features. Now comes the key point when you need to do something. Do you need increased production capacity? Has a new… read more »
March 23, 2016 Measuring Thin Parallel Plates – Buyers Guide Chapter 8
In this blog the measurement of thin parallel plates with a Fizeau interferometer is discussed. Filters, etalons and plane parallel components exhibit reflections from the front and back surface rendering them impossible to measure in a standard laser Fizeau interferometer. A standard interferometer uses a laser, making interference easy to create, no matter the interferometer… read more »
