September 2, 2009--Lambda Research Corporation (Littleton, MA) has released a new user guide for its OSLO optical design software. The free 100+ page guide is both a basic optical primer and a set of step by step examples. The guide covers how to enter, analyze, and design optical systems in OSLO, showing how to use raysets, modulation transfer function (MTF), slider wheels, tolerancing, optimization, and OSLO's built-in compiled command language (CCL).
OSLO was first developed at Sinclair Optics (Pittsford, NY); the program was acquired by Lambda Research in January, 2001. Early on, when optical-design programs were all run on large computers, OSLO became the first optical-design program that could be run on a personal computer. It has always been known as a more-affordable alternative; however, it is a very capable program, used not only for conventional optical design but also for purposes as diverse as the design of laser cavities and faceted solar reflectors.
Lambda Research Corporation has also reduced the price of the entire OSLO product line. According to the company, OSLO now includes twelve months of support with each purchased edition. OSLO Premium is now half its previous cost. This makes OSLO the lowest priced fully featured optical design program on the market, says Lambda Research. The OSLO Premium edition includes an 800 lens database, a fully programmable compiled command language, and "more optimization capabilities than any other optical design product on the market today," according to Lambda Research.
A free version of the program called OSLO EDU, as well as the new OSLO user guide, can be downloaded at www.lambdares.com/education/oslo_edu/. (OSLO EDU is limited to 10 optical surfaces.) A free 30-day trial of OSLO Premium can be requested at www.lambdares.com/trials.
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