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How to Use the Modify Reference Objects Tool
- By Mark Nicholson
- Published 23 February 2007
- Objects
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Introduction
Object placement in the non-sequential component editor is very easy. Objects may be placed relative to the global coordinate system, or placed relative to any previously defined object. This makes it easy to place objects independently of each other, or to define sub-assemblies in which the objects inside the sub-assembly are positioned relative to some pivot point.
The object to which the coordinates are relative to is the "reference object". The default reference object is object 0, which is the vertex of the Non-Sequential Component surface. If a positive number greater than zero is specified, then the coordinates of the object are referenced to the location and rotation of the specified object. This is an "absolute" reference object. If the reference object number is negative, then the reference object is determined by adding the current object number to the negative reference object number. This is a "relative" reference object. For example, if the reference object is -3 on object 8, the reference object will be 5 because 8 - 3 = 5. Relative reference objects are particularly useful when copying and pasting groups of objects; this is easiest if all the objects in the group use relative references to the first object in the group.
The 'Modify Reference Object' Tool makes it easy to change the reference object used by any specified object. To demonstrate its use, open the sample file 'Multiple Mirror Telescope.zmx'. This is found in the folder {ZEMAX root}\Samples\Non-sequential\Miscellaneous. It shows a four-channel telescope array, where each channel is relayed into a beam combiner such that a single image is formed:
If you open the Non-Sequential Component Editor, you will see that there are 56 objects, and that many of these objects are Null Objects. The null objects represent the coordinate break surfaces that were used to position the surfaces in an initially sequential design. They are no longer necessary, and we will use the Modify Reference Objects tool to redefine the optical components relative to the global coordinate reference point of the non-sequential group.
The object to which the coordinates are relative to is the "reference object". The default reference object is object 0, which is the vertex of the Non-Sequential Component surface. If a positive number greater than zero is specified, then the coordinates of the object are referenced to the location and rotation of the specified object. This is an "absolute" reference object. If the reference object number is negative, then the reference object is determined by adding the current object number to the negative reference object number. This is a "relative" reference object. For example, if the reference object is -3 on object 8, the reference object will be 5 because 8 - 3 = 5. Relative reference objects are particularly useful when copying and pasting groups of objects; this is easiest if all the objects in the group use relative references to the first object in the group.
The 'Modify Reference Object' Tool makes it easy to change the reference object used by any specified object. To demonstrate its use, open the sample file 'Multiple Mirror Telescope.zmx'. This is found in the folder {ZEMAX root}\Samples\Non-sequential\Miscellaneous. It shows a four-channel telescope array, where each channel is relayed into a beam combiner such that a single image is formed:
If you open the Non-Sequential Component Editor, you will see that there are 56 objects, and that many of these objects are Null Objects. The null objects represent the coordinate break surfaces that were used to position the surfaces in an initially sequential design. They are no longer necessary, and we will use the Modify Reference Objects tool to redefine the optical components relative to the global coordinate reference point of the non-sequential group.