The "what is this?" challenge

[microb]

What is this? It has optical tilt mounts. The metal boxes take a four pin connector. But there is no output/light-path hole drilled in anywhere.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/American-Optic ... 3002518110

[microb]

One of my friends gave this answer: "Interesting. I wasn't expecting to see this so early. This will make much more sense in August, 2021 after the Event."

Yep. 2020. What can I tell you.

Choose level:
-Easy
-Medium
-Hard
-2020

[BramHuntingNematodes]

Also it has a positionable stage with some gruff looking clips. What is on the underside of the boxes?

[Scarodactyl]

I had pondered posting a thread about this exact item. I suspect most of us who have spent time looking for AO gear have run into it.

[microb]

So I sent a message to ask what's the underside of the boxes looks like.

The unit probably comes with these joystick controls also for sale.



https://www.ebay.com/itm/Lot-of-Two-Ame ... 3043343293

[microb]

No luck for the undersides.

[PeteM]

I give up . . .

[apochronaut]

Likely early photonics stuff. Laser guides? Possibly used internally in their own lab or made for research labs outside.

[microb]

The seller opened one of the boxes:

[hans]

Looks like it could function as a 4-axis (XYZ plus rotation about the axis of the protruding bit) micropositioner based on resistive heating of the support wires with the tip-tilt stage providing coarse centering?

I had pondered posting a thread about this exact item. I suspect most of us who have spent time looking for AO gear have run into it.

Yup, I also came across this thing a while back.

[Scarodactyl]

Yup yup yup, that is sure an...apparatus mechanism.