The Proper Care of Optics: Cleaning, Handling, Storage, and Shipping

237 Pages·2013·24.567 MB·English

by  Robert Schalck

SPIE PRESS
If you want the best performance from your optics, they need
to be properly maintained. This book describes the cleaning,
handling, and storage methods used by professional
technicians to keep optics in top condition. It is written for a
diverse audience, from first-time optical cleaners to seasoned
engineers who are looking to expand their repertoire. In the
lab or in the field, you'll find the right technique to protect
your equipment from harm. Reference lists of tools, solvents,
and suppliers are provided to help you find solutions quickly.
P.O. Box 10
Bellingham, WA 98227-0010
ISBN: 9780819494573
SPIE Vol. No.: PM233

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Schalck, Robert.
The proper care of optics : cleaning, handling, storage, and shipping /
Robert Schalck.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-8194-9457-3
1. Opticalinstruments Cleaning.2. Opticalinstruments Storage. I.Title.
QC372.S34 2013
681'.40288 dc23
2013000916
Published by
SPIE The International Society for Optical Engineering
P.O. Box 10
Bellingham, Washington 98227-0010 USA
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [email protected]
Web: http://spie.org
Copyright©2013SocietyofPhoto-OpticalInstrumentationEngineers(SPIE)
Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthispublicationmaybereproducedordistributed
inanyformorbyanymeanswithoutwrittenpermissionofthepublisher.
Thecontentofthisbookreflectstheworkandthoughtoftheauthor(s).Every
effort has been made to publish reliable and accurate information herein,
but the publisher is not responsible for the validity of the information or for
any outcomes resulting from reliance thereon.
Printed in the United States of America.
First printing

Contents
Preface xi
1 Introduction 1
1.1 Safety 1
1.2 Optical Materials: Glass, Coatings, Plastic, and IR 2
1.3 When to Clean 5
2 Cleaning Tools and Work Area 7
2.1 Equipment for Cleaning Optics 7
2.1.1 Worktable 8
2.1.2 Laminar flow bench 9
2.1.3 Lighting 10
2.1.4 Lighting types 11
2.1.5 Compressed air and gas 12
2.2 Cleaning Tool List 13
2.2.1 Cleaning tools usage summary 14
2.2.2 Soft brushes 15
2.2.3 Gloves and finger cots 16
2.2.4 Cleaning solvents and materials list 18
2.2.5 Solvent dispensers 19
2.2.6 Solvents 20
2.2.7 Personal protective equipment: gloves, cots,
face mask, head cap, and lab coat 23
v
vi Contents
2.3 Applicator Types 24
2.3.1 Hand technique for cotton- and foam-tip applicators 26
2.3.2 Folding lens tissue 26
2.3.3 Hand techniques for folded tissues
or wipes 27
3 Inspecting Optics 31
3.1 The Inspection Process 31
3.1.1 Types of contamination 33
3.1.2 Scratch and dig: a history 34
3.1.3 Visual method: using the unaided eye 36
3.1.4 Using the eye loupe magnifier 37
3.1.5 Using a low-power and Nomarski microscope 38
3.1.6 Map making: visual and digital methods 40
3.1.7 Mirror coating 41
3.1.8 Antireflection coating 42
3.1.9 Digital microscopes 44
4 Cleaning Techniques for Small and Large Optics 47
4.1 Small Optics 47
4.2 Inspecting Large Optics 48
4.2.1 Large optics: hand-cleaning techniques 56
4.2.2 Large lens 57
4.2.3 Large mirror 58
4.2.4 Large window 61
4.2.5 IR optics: transmissive and reflective 63
5 Special Cleaning Processes 65
5.1 Drag Method 66
5.2 Strip-Coating Cleaning 67
5.3 Cleaning Plastic Optics 69
5.4 Chalk Cleaning 71
5.5 CO Cleaning 74
2
5.6 Ultrasonic Cleaning 76
5.7 Carbon-Tip Cleaning 77
5.8 Spin Cleaning 79
5.9 Automatic Cleaning System: A Reference 81
Contents vii
6 Cleaning Optical Systems and Instruments 83
6.1 Techniques for Instrument Cleaning 83
6.1.1 How to view instruments 84
6.1.2 Marking methods: identification 88
6.1.3 Hand tools for instruments 91
6.1.4 Instrument and optical-system cleaning 93
6.2 Instrument Windows and View Ports 94
6.2.1 Disassembling an instrument 95
6.2.2 Refractor telescope 96
6.2.3 Reflector telescope 100
6.2.4 Catadioptric optical system 105
6.2.5 Binoculars and monocular 108
6.2.6 Light microscope 109
6.2.7 Eyepiece 112
6.2.8 Camera: single-lens reflex and video 114
6.3 Vehicle and Building Windows: A Reference 116
6.3.1 Metal optics 119
6.3.2 Covering optical instruments 121
6.3.3 Video CCD and CMOS sensor chips 123
6.3.4 Cleaning microscope slides 126
6.3.5 Eyeglasses: a reference 127
7 Tricks of the Trade 131
7.1 Edge Cleaning 131
7.1.1 Surface protection 134
7.1.2 Wood stick tools 137
7.1.3 Soap and detergent 139
7.1.4 “Huffing” and skin oil 140
7.2 Black Paint and Black Pen Ink for Edge Blackening 142
7.2.1 Blackening the edge of a lens, window, or prism 144
7.2.2 Painting a nonoptical surface with black paint 146
7.2.3 Blackening the edge with a rotating spindle 148
7.3 Removing RTV Silicone Rubber 149
7.3.1 Removal of cured glue and cement from an
optical surface 151
viii Contents
7.3.2 Removing aluminum coating with liquid
etch: a reference 153
7.3.3 Lighthouse lenses: a historical reference 156
8 Handling Optics 159
8.1 Tweezers and Hemostats 159
8.2 Special Tweezers 161
8.3 Suction and Vacuum Cups 163
8.4 Using Trays to Handle Optics 164
8.5 Storage Box and Cabinet Types 165
9 Protection Methods for Optics 169
9.1 Tissue 169
9.2 Envelopes 170
9.3 Containers for Storage 171
10 Storage of Optics 175
10.1 Short-Term Storage of Optics 175
10.2 Long-Term Storage of Optics 178
11 Shipping Optics 179
11.1 Cardboard, Plastic, and PET/G Boxes 180
11.2 Cardboard Shipping Containers 181
11.3 Clamshell Shipping Containers 184
11.4 Other Types of Shipping Boxes 185
12 R&D Laboratory Cleaning Kit 187
13 Cleaning Optics in the Field 189
13.1 Field Cleaning Kit 190
13.2 Field Setup and First Process 192
13.3 Outdoor Lighting 193
13.4 Field Work Area 194
14 Resources 197
14.1 Suppliers of General Cleaning Products 197
14.2 Suppliers of Cleaning Tools 201
14.3 Suppliers of Storage Items 202
14.4 Shipping Suppliers 203
Contents ix
Organizations 205
References 207
Bibliography 209
Quick Cleaning Reference 215
Index 217