ZEMAX Users' Knowledge Base - Articles - Objects

How to Perform Freeform Optical Design

no@spam.com (Mark Nicholson) — Fri, 01 May 2009 13:00:00 PDT

This article describes how to undertake 'freeform' optical design using the Freeform-z object. This can be used for a complete design, or to generate starting points for subsequent work. An LED collimator lightpipe is used as an example

How to Measure the Sag of an NSC Object

no@spam.com (Sanjay Gangadhara) — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 00:00:00 PST

This article describes how to measure the surface sag of a non-sequential object using the NSRA�operand.�

How to Model a Complex Fresnel Lens

no@spam.com (Mark Nicholson) — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 00:00:00 PDT

This article describes how to model complex Fresnel lenses, in which each groove may have different defining data. It is also a useful tutorial on defining complex objects in general.

How to Use the Modify Reference Objects Tool

no@spam.com (Mark Nicholson) — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 00:00:00 PST

This article explains how to use the Modify Reference Object Tool to tidy up multiple reference points and to define new pivot points in a non-sequential design

Can I Define a Background Material Other Than Air?

no@spam.com (Dan Hill) — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 00:00:00 PDT

This article explains how to create a "background" material for non-sequential ray-tracing in both pure NSC and in mixed mode.

This article is also available in Japanese.

How To Create Apertures and Off-Axis Mirrored Sections in Non-Sequential Mode

no@spam.com (Dan Hill) — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 00:00:00 PDT

This article�explains:

How to create off-axis parabolic mirror in Non-Sequential mode.
How to vignette rays which fall outside a defined aperture in Non-Sequential mode.� A slit aperture is used as an example.

This article is also available in Japanese.

Creating Polygon Objects in ZEMAX

no@spam.com (Dan Hill) — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 00:00:00 PDT

Polygon Objects�are one way of�creating�flexible user-defined volumes�or shells within ZEMAX.� This article covers how to create polygon objects, define face groups, and call the object from the NSC Editor.

How to Use the Boolean Object and the Combine Objects Tool

no@spam.com (Mark Nicholson) — Mon, 03 Apr 2006 00:00:00 PDT

ZEMAX supports the ability to perform Boolean operations on�volume NSC objects. This feature allows operations such as adding objects together, subtracting one object from another, or defining an object as the intersection volume of two objects. The resulting trimmed object may have properties assigned to each resulting face independently.

This article discusses how to use the Boolean object and the Combine Objects Tool.

This article is also available in Japanese.

How Non-Sequential Objects are Represented in ZEMAX

no@spam.com (Nam-Hyong Kim) — Tue, 11 Oct 2005 00:00:00 PDT

This article explains:

The differences between�parametric and non-parametric objects
How non-sequential objects are represented in ZEMAX
The advantages of parametric objects

How to Import CAD Objects

no@spam.com (Mark Nicholson) — Tue, 13 Sep 2005 00:00:00 PDT

This article describes how to import CAD objects into ZEMAX, using

STL
IGES
STEP
SAT

file formats. The choice of CAD format you use is likely to be based on the CAD program you use. STL is good for objects that are inherently faceted, or where you will use stereolithography to generate rapid prototypes. IGES and STEP are CAD exchange standards, and the choice between them will probably be based on the quality of your CAD program's export routines. SAT format will be used if your CAD program is based on the ACIS engine.