<title>Optical Tooling For Antares</title>

Abstract

The Antares laser system is a large (40 kJ) CO2 pulse laser system. High energy pulses are transmitted between buildings over path lengths exceeding 90 m. The optical elements are contained within large steel assemblies (power amplifiers, turning chambers, and target chamber) which must be positioned with tolerances of 0.75 mm. The subassblies of optical components must be prepositioned to a precision of 0.25 mm. This precision can easily be obtained by first order surveying techniques and instrumentation.' Although this accuracy is routinely achieved in geodetic network controls and high-precision engineering projects, the Antares optical tooling techniques had to be tailored to the geometry of the system. The basic theoretical optical train centerlines were established throughout the facility. These theoretical references had to be transferred onto solid reference surfaces, often around many physical obstacles. This paper describes the use of a combination of traditional surveying techniques and modern optical tooling methods throughout the integration of building reference planes and the erection of major steel assemblies. The design and measured assembly tolerances are compared.© (1981) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.