Re: Telescope Design Programs!

From: FB (info_at_optenso.de)
Date: 10/29/04 

Date: 29 Oct 2004 04:09:47 -0700

West Coast Engineering <westcoastengineering@westcoastengineering.com> wrote in message news:<cg53o0l24ql6sg66j9ptf56vk4pucpjscm@4ax.com>...
> "Steven L. Dodds" <steve@nova-optical.com> wrote:
>
> >A full featured optics design program can be a bit overwhelming for
> >amateurs. If you are only interested in designing telescopes try ATMOS
> >
> >
> >http://web.tiscali.it/ATMOS/
>
> Hi Steve,
>
> The problem with ATMOS is that he is not a professional optical
> designer who understands the design issues involved in real optical
> design. He is a very nice person, trying to learn how to do things
> like PSF, DOTF and GOTF. I admire his energy and his persistance and
> he is far more into the "good force" of optical design than the guy
> who is into the "dark force" side of it.
>
> EXTRAPOLATE FROM MY EARLIER POSTINGS
>
> Yes, I understand. Optical design programs are only easy after you
> know how to use them. When you are a beginner, it is a lot like
> reading ancient Greek after everyone who could read it has been dead
> about a thousand years.
> Please submit a wish list of things to make telescope design easier.
> (anyone reading this)
>
> Suppose a relatively inexpensive but powerful optical design program
> had in its GUI menu system, dialog boxes which would allow the user to
> set up FOV, Aperture and F/# and then at the press of a button, set up
> prescriptions and optimize the following telescopes:
>
> Newtonian
> Cassagrainian (and all its variations)
> Gregorian
> Three Mirror Anastigmats (focal and afocal, on axis in aperture,
> off-axis in field)
> Three Mirror Anastigmats (focal and afocal, off axis in aperture,
> off-axis in field)
> Reflective Triplets (on and off axis in aperture, off-axis in field)
> Offner relays
> Schmit Cameras
> Schmit Cas.
> Refractive Doublets
> Cook Triplets
>
> 1. What other design forms would be of interest? Iv'e been designing
> this stuff for 20 years and could easily automate it in the menu in
> ODP.

OpTaliX-LT already does provide this functionality for some basic
telescope forms (Newtonian, Cassegrain, Richey-Chretien, Gregorian,
Refractor doublet) in a full blown GUI. System data like FOV, F/#, focal
length, etc, can be entered in dialog boxes and the program does
the rest. Thus, an inexperienced or occasional user does not need to
know much about all the subtle details of the program. OpTaliX also
composes a default merit function for subsequent optimization, however,
that would require OpTaliX-Pro.

OpTaliX-LT is shareware and is found at http://www.optenso.de/

OpTaliX has been written and is maintained by professional optical designers
with more than 25 years experience in both optical design and software
development.

Finally a few words about the author of ATMOS: I know him personally
and I do admire him for his achievements, even though he is not
involved in professional optical desgin. Also keep in mind that many
great astronomers and designers were amateurs (for example Herschel,
Schupmann, Kutter, to name only a few).

< rest snipped>

Fritz

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