The Proper Care of Optics: Cleaning, Handling, Storage and Shipping

Level: Introductory Length: 4.5 hours Format: Online Intended Audience: Technicians, engineers, scientists and managers who wish to learn the methods of cleaning, handling, storage and shipping of optics. High school to graduate degree. Description: There are many ways to clean optics; some are learned from experience and/or failure. This course explains the proper cleaning methods for optics that are used by professional optical technicians and engineers. How to clean optics has always been a challenging and controversial subject. Searching the Internet will yield hundreds of articles and videos that claim to know the best methods. This course will explain the simple steps used in cleaning optics. It will also describe the proper handling, storage and shipping of optical components. The course is designed for a diverse audience, from a first-time optical cleaner to an engineer searching for methods of handling and packaging optics. An in-class demonstration on inspecting and cleaning optics will be presented. Learning Outcomes: This course will enable you to: - identify proper cleaning tools and their use - explain safety guidelines, personal protection equipment and basic worktable layout - compare lighting types required for inspection and cleaning - identify solvents and cleaning liquids used for removing contaminates - describe hand techniques used for applicators, wipes, and how to fold wipes - explain inspection methods for optical surfaces - list the types of contaminants and describe a short history of scratch and dig - describe visual methods used: unaided eye, eye loupe, microscope (light and digital) - describe types of optical coatings - explain proper cleaning of small, large and infrared optics - describe special cleaning techniques - explain techniques used for instrument inspection, disassembly, assembly, and cleaning - describe various instrument types - describe the tricks of the trade: edge cleaning, protection, black paint and removing glue - describe handling of optics using tweezers, cups, trays, storage and protection methods - summarize shipping containment methods - explain outdoor field cleaning Instructor(s): Robert Schalck is an Optical Engineer with 50 years experience in the optical industry. He is the author of the book "The Proper Care of Optics" (SPIE Press, 2019) as well as an SPIE Online Course of the same title. He presented his first paper on cleaning optics at the OSA OF&T workshop in 1975. In 1989, he delivered a paper on Classical Optical Cleaning at the OSA "How to Conference." Over several decades, he has given presentations on how to care for optics at universities, colleges, groups and organizations. He has presented several papers on optical designs and the testing of optics. He is a Senior Member of OSA (Emeritus) and SPIE (Emeritus). SPIE online courses are on-demand and self-paced, with access for one year. For more information visit: spie.org/education/online-courses