Prototype Consulting for our Clients
Tecnottica offers a Prototyping Consultancy service to support Clients who do not have internal designers or optical knowledge, but need to create systems or optics from scratch to perform a function without knowing the system specifications, or who need to adapt commercial components to particular functions.
Tecnottica provides Clients with a specialized Technician with a Ph.D. in Physics who is responsible for designing the entire optical system, following them in all phases, from the Site Inspection, Feasibility Study, Design, Production, Project Approval, Glass Sourcing, to Validation and Mass Production.
The phases of the Consultancy
Site Inspection
The Optical Designer visits the client to understand the final objective of the project and the optical system, evaluate the current situation, the devices on which the optics will be mounted or with which it will have to interact, the working range, understand the function that it will have to perform, and gather all the necessary information for Prototyping.
Feasibility Study
After identifying a potential project, before proceeding to the next phase, it is necessary to conduct a Feasibility Study to define the likelihood of success and feasibility. Due to the complexity of optical systems, uncertainty about requirements, and the presence of possible alternatives, it is essential to conduct an in-depth analysis before the design phase can be initiated.
Based on a rough idea, the Optical Designer analyzes and evaluates the functional and technical characteristics of the project, the costs, and the possible results.
Design
Once the design idea is approved, which is consistent with the project objectives and presents a lower risk profile and greater ease of realization, the Optical Designer provides all the necessary elements to start the design phase.
The optical and assembly simulations begin, and after identifying the best solution with the help of design software and the Optical Designer, the documentation is sent to the Production Department. The Production Manager then evaluates the actual feasibility of the project.
Often in this phase, theory clashes with reality, and it is necessary to repeat the process from the simulation phase, where the Optical Designer must find a more feasible design with less challenging tolerances. If even a single lens needs to be redesigned, the entire system must be reviewed to find the optimal solution.
To know more about this process read also “Prototyping and Optomechanical Design“.
Glass Availability
Once the project is approved, it is necessary to verify the availability of the necessary glass and materials to produce the optics and mechanical parts.
If there are stock problems (as has been the case for the past two years due to political and health issues), the project must be reviewed from the beginning, using a glass available that is as similar as possible to the original project in the simulations.
Production
At the end of all checks and approvals, the Production phase of all optical components and mechanical parts begins.
Validation
When the prototype is ready, the internal and field testing phase begins. If the prototype passes all the tests, mass production begins.
“We are once again proud to say that, at Tecnottica, we have a team of highly qualified experts who do not give up in the face of challenges. – Said Alberto Fasoli, Product Manager at Tecnottica – In the last two years, we have conducted more than 50 consultancies and produced prototypes that other Feasibility Studies had declared unfeasible.”
Each Prototyping Consultancy is a unique and not always achievable project.
The importance of having Experts in Optical Physics, Optical Design, and Optical Materials is fundamental for the success of a project and to ensure that the Feasibility Study does not have a negative outcome.
Contact us if you need help bringing your Optical System or Components to life, to develop Optical Systems from scratch or Adapt Commercial Components to specific Optical functions.