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Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Operation of the Collaborative Composite Manufacturing (CCM) System
Published on: October 1, 2019
Optical alignment of multiple components to a common coordinate system
Abstract:
An improved method of optical tooling for the determination of angular alignment of randomly oriented multicomponent systems is described. The method was developed for alignment of the Orbiting Astronomical Observatory. A test object is mounted on a precision rotary table and viewed in autocollimation by a first-order theodolite. Azimuth and elevation readings from subject mirrors and relay mirrors, and azimuth readings from a dihedral mirror reference system are transformed into test object coordinates of roll, pitch, and yaw by a computer program. The program uses matrix optics methods. Errors are discussed.
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