fairfolio
Saved Projects

Creating an Economical Interferometer Through CAD Engineering

AJAS · 2020

Joseph Blackburn · New Hampshire Science Academy

Overview

The considerable cost of optical hardware is a limiting factor for pursuing optical research and development. For schools, even relatively basic demonstration experiments may require a considerable investment. For instance, the cost for a basic interferometer, an instrument that uses the interference of two beams of light to measure precise distances, can cost over $3,000. The idea of implementing optical systems with 3D printed components has been done before, including at Onsabrück University, where a Physics Research Group created a LEGO Mach-Zehnder model interferometer. This project was introduced to our NHAS lab to study the trade-off between cost and functionality of 3D printed optical systems for use in a school lab environment. This study proposes that, by 3D printing mechanical components, affordable optical systems may be created with little compromise in terms of functionality and precision. To achieve this goal, the factory-machined parts were both replicated and completely redesigned as 3D printed components. The process included breaking each factory-made piece into several simple parts that could be easily made individually by sketching and then 3D printing. It was accomplished with the help of 2 key programs: Fusion 360 (CAD/CAM design tool) and Cura (3D Printing Slicing Program). To demonstrate the potential of this approach, a Michelson interferometer served as a model. The original factory-made parts were estimated to cost between $3,000 - $5,000. In comparison, the 3D printed version cost $378.95. To put this in perspective, the cheapest item (lens holder) which was designed and 3D printed with material expenses of less than $3 replaces the factory version priced at $80. With mechanical parts less than $5, the greatest expense is lenses, mirrors, and beam splitters, since they can currently not be replaced by a cost-effective 3D print process. The project was able to demonstrate successfully a white light Michelson interferometer at a substantially reduced cost. All parts are both durable and well-suited for a classroom environment. The reduced cost has to be weighed against the limited precision of the 3D print process. Commercially available 3D Printers such as our LulzBot Taz 6 are not as precise as factory-grade metalworking. Future work will focus on facilitating optical setups with both movable and adjustable parts, and more extensive experimentation with different print parameters.

Competition history

  • AJAS 2020 Category not listed

Related projects

Closest projects by meaning, across every fair and year in the corpus.

Browse more like this

Source: AAAS Annual Meeting (Confex) / American Junior Academy of Science

Save projects to your library

Sign in with Google to keep track of projects you find interesting, organized into folders. An account also raises your daily allowance for “Has this been done?”, and lets you create a key for the MCP server with a much higher limit than anonymous use. Browsing stays public.

Continue with Google