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4.0 release notes
October 10, 2017
If you have questions, contact
Copyright © Zemax, LLC 2017. All Rights Reserved. 2
CONTENTS
Contents ..................................................................................................................................................................... 2
1 Overview............................................................................................................................................................ 3
2 New Features ................................................................................................................................................... 3
2.1 Power Throughput ................................................................................................................. 3
2.2 Enhanced Multi-configuration Capabilities .......................................................................... 4
2.3 Support for Loading Optical Assemblies Mated in Reference ............................................ 5
3 Enhancements ................................................................................................................................................. 5
3.1 Support for Large Assemblies ............................................................................................... 5
3.2 Improved Optical Performance Summary (OPS) ................................................................. 6
Copyright © Zemax, LLC 2017. All Rights Reserved. 3
1 OVERVIEW
Powerful new features and enhancements deliver the premier software experience for
optomechanical design and analysis
The LensMechanix® 4.0 release provides a complete toolset for mechanical engineers to collaborate
efficiently with optical engineers to design optomechanical products. You can load assemblies with more
than 1,000 components, quickly calculate power throughput and efficiency, make design changes, and
easily review the impact of mechanical components on optical performance. After completing your
designs, you can save multi-configuration output files and seamlessly load optical systems to any location
and orientation in an existing assembly.
Check our website for more information, or contact your local sales team to subscribe or renew your
license.
2 NEW FEATURES
2.1 POWER THROUGHPUT Easily identify the source of undesired power loss by analyzing power throughput
You can quickly calculate power loss and efficiency in optomechanical designs in one convenient location
using the new Power Throughput tool in the Command Manager. The tool calculates the amount of
power that enters a system (flux in) and the amount of power that makes it through the system (flux out).
It then displays the total power lost (both in watts and as a percentage of total power) due to optical
components versus mechanical components. You can also visualize ray paths that intersect any
mechanical components in your designs by applying an automated ray filter. The Power Throughput tool
makes it easy to identify the source of undesired power loss, so you can rapidly resolve efficiency issues.
Figure 1. The Power Throughput tool
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This tool is particularly useful for laser applications because any power lost in these systems can cause
catastrophic failures in physical prototypes.
2.2 ENHANCED MULTI-CONFIGURATION CAPABILITIES Simplify information sharing by creating an OpticStudio output file with multiple configurations
After you analyze different design configurations, you can now save an OpticStudio output file with
multiple configurations, and then share the configurations with your optical engineer in one file. For
example, if you create a design with different changes, such as shifting a lens by 25 microns and by 50
microns, you can send these to the optical engineer in one file instead of three files. This makes it easy to
share multiple test cases between LensMechanix and OpticStudio.
To analyze assemblies with varying conditions, positions, settings, or other parameters, create a single
Zemax archive file (.zar). On the LensMechanix tab, in the Generate Files drop-down menu, click Save
Multi-configuration OpticStudio Output and then select the configurations you want to save.
Figure 2. Select multiple configurations in the Select Prototypes to Save dialog box
Simultaneously compare the optical performance of all configurations
You can now simultaneously run a ray trace for all configurations and then check the performance of all
configurations at a glance by using the Configuration Comparison Table. By showing spot size, beam
clipping, and image contamination measurements for each configuration, the table helps you isolate
issues and evaluate design options. To access this feature, in the Command Manager, click Display
Outputs and then select Multi-configuration comparison.
Figure 3. Collapsed Configuration Comparison Table
Figure 4. Expanded Configuration Comparison Table
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2.3 SUPPORT FOR LOADING OPTICAL ASSEMBLIES MATED IN REFERENCE Add optical systems to existing assemblies in any location or orientation
Before, when loading optical systems in LensMechanix, you had to ensure that the positions and
orientations of the SOLIDWORKS parts aligned with the OpticStudio designs. In LensMechanix 4.0, you
have the flexibility to load a design in the orientation or position that your system requires. You can even
add a complete optical design in any location in an existing mechanical assembly.
Figure 5. Select loading preferences in the Load OpticStudio File dialog box
3 ENHANCEMENTS
3.1 SUPPORT FOR LARGE ASSEMBLIES Analyze assemblies with thousands of components
Between spacers, housings, lenses, fasteners, power supplies, and other components, mechanical
assemblies can often exceed hundreds—or even thousands—of components in a single product.
In LensMechanix 4.0, all assembly size limitations have been removed. This enhancement requires no
steps to implement. SOLIDWORKS performance is still fixed to the number of parts in your assembly, but
now it takes only 5-10 percent more time to load or open large assemblies in LensMechanix. Additionally,
you'll see that the performance of ray tracing through optical systems and optomechanical components in
large assemblies is not impacted.
Figure 6. Example of a large assembly in LensMechanix
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3.2 IMPROVED OPTICAL PERFORMANCE SUMMARY (OPS) Access the OPS from the SOLIDWORKS graphics area
The Optical Performance Summary is one of the most powerful features in LensMechanix. In this release,
we’ve made the OPS more intuitive and easier to use. For example, you can now work in the graphics area
and the OPS simultaneously. You can take advantage of multiple monitors, move the OPS outside of the
graphics area, and see OPS data while you’re validating designs.
In addition, you can still identify issues in your design at a glance, but you can now interpret optical data
more intuitively with the new, modern UI. Use the new tabbed interface to navigate to specific
performance criteria to diagnose and correct issues.
Figure 7. The Optical Performance Summary (OPS)
To access the OPS, click Display OPS in the Command Manager.
