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Light-Dividing Prism

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1945 J. Sci. Instrum. 22 156

(http://iopscience.iop.org/0950-7671/22/8/411)

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surfaces, the instrument may be stood or rested upon the article
undcr examination. During machining processes the analyser may
be used for taking periodic checks until thc rcquired surfacc is
obtained, when a photograph may be taken fqr record purposes,
or as a guarantee that the part is to specification. The instrument
will also just as readily deal with smaller components, which can
be laid upon an anvil or vec block, beneath the reference lens.
Fig. I. Optical surface-finish mcter with photographic attachment
This instrument may be used for the checking of surface finish
of convex, concave and flat surfaces by means of the various special
reference lenses provided. T h e spacing between the fringes is given
‘for practical purposes’ as 0~000,012 in. A typical photograph
taken with the instrument is reproduced in Fig. 2.
Fig. 2. Typical photograph, showing a scratch 0~000,030in. deep
across a lapped surface (horizontal magnification x 5 5 0 , vertical
across lowest band x IOO,OOO in original photograph)
Light-DividingPrism. Scophony Ltd.,Town Hall Buildings,
Wells; Somerset.
Ordinarily a beam-splitting prism is designed to divide a beam of
light into two beams of more or less equal intensity in different
directions-usually at right angles-and this is effected by a thin
semi-transparent reflecting layer of metal, usually silver. Such a
beam splitter takes the form of a double prism the two halves being
cemented together along a common surface provided with the thin
reflecting layer so that part of the light is reflected and part trans-
mitted, the two beams emerging from the prism in different
directions. T h e prisms are designed so that refraction aberrations
[ 156 1
produced as the light enters are more or less compensated by
opposite errors on emergence. T h e prisms also serve to protect the
transparent metal film, which is much more fragile than an opaque
film. The commonest form of beam splitter is formed by cementing
two right angle prisms together by their hypotenuses, one of which
carries the metallic film; the whole thus forms a cube.
In many cases, however, it is desired that one beam should be
of less intensity than the other and there are several ways of ac-
complishing this. (a)T h e thickness of the metallic layer can be
reduced. T o this there are certain drawbacks. In the first place it
is difficult to control the uniformity of a very thin metallic layer
whether produced chemically, by cathodic sputtering or evapora.
tion in vaczro; such a layer is very fragile and will hardly stand up
to the process of cementing; the lowcr limit to the amount of light
reflected is about 16 per cent; finally with these very thin films
there is considerable loss of light by absorption amounting to as
much as 50 per cent of the total. ( b ) Surface reflexion from a trans-
parent material such as glass is used. Hcre the lower limit to the
reflected intensity is ~ o p e rcent; to avoid double image due to
reflection from the two sides of the glass a very thin plate must be
used, in which case it is fragile and cannot be made optically flat.
A thin stretched collodion pellicle can he made flatter, but is very
fragile. ( c ) The two prisms of case (a) may be employed, un-
silvered and separated by a very thin air space. T h e two contiguous
surfaces must also be maintained exactly parallel and dust must be
excluded. Mounting thercfore presents some difficulty.
Fig. I. Light-dividing prism Fig, 2. Light-dividing prism
giving lateral inversion with no lateral inversion
Apart from the objections appertaining to all these methods it
is not possible to reduce the proportion of light reflected to less
than IO per cent, whereas in many cases, e.g., where an image is to
be photographed and simultaneously observed, for focussing,
framing. exposure, timing, or for controlling the ohject, the illu-
mination for photography is so great, in order to permit of short
exposures, that a fraction of the order of I per cent is sufficient
for visual observation-indeed, a greater amount would cause dis-
comfort. T h e observing system transmitting only I per cent is
practically opaque as far as admitting external light to the photo-
graphic system is concerned and no external shutter to prevent
fogging is necessary when the eye is removed. This simplifies the
construction.
T h e Scophony Light-Splitting Prism (patent applied for) (Fig. I )
provides this low reflectance, utilizing method (c) above, but re-
placing the air gap by a cementing medium of different refractive
index from that of the prisms. There are several suitable media,
such as copal varnish, Canada balsam, and thermo-setting plastics,
of different refractive indices and a wide choice of glass, so that it
is possible to obtain almost any desired difference of refractive
index. The percentage of light reflected from thc separating surface
between two media of refractive indices nl and nz is
IO0 {(na- n M n z + ndP.
If we take nl= 1’54,which is approximately the value for Canada
balsam, and np= 1.70using extra dense flint or one of the new dense
barium crowns, the percentage reflexion is about 0.25 per cent.
As there are two reflecting surfaces the total light reflected is
0.5 per cent, and there is practically no absorption, so that the
diminution in intensity of the beam transmitted is inappreciable.
By using other glasses o r cementing materials, greater or less
reflection can be obtained as desired.
T h e cementing material not only serves to control exactly the
amount of light reflected but also to hold the two prisms in fixed
relationship to one another, thus facilitating mounting. The layer
of medium can be pressed out thin to prevent doubling without
impairment of the optical qualities of the image which can therefore
be viewed under high degree of magnification-a matter of some
importance if the object is, for example, a finely divided scale. T h e
production of an accurately parallel layer of medium presents no
difficultyas, by observation under a mercury vapour lamp or other
Source of approximately monochromatic light, Newton's rings give
an accurate indication of parallelism to one hundred thousandth
part of an inch if necessary.
A further advantage of the Scophony Light-Dividing Prism is
that in the form of a cube (Fig. z ) , if one surface is silvered, from
which the reflected beam of low intensity can be reflected normally
to pass through the separating medium (by which the amount of
light lost is negligibly small), it acts exactly as a pentagonal prism
with its advantages of being insensitive to tilt in mounting and of
freedom from lateral inversion of the image.
The need for splitting a beam of light into two parts having an
intensity ratio of the order of 50 to IOO to I arises in photography,
especially kinematography and kine-micrography, where as much
light as possible is required in the photographic beam. Hitherto
in such cases the beam has been equally divided and the visual
beam passed through a dense filter to reduce its intensity and thus
useful light is wasted. T h e Scophony beam splitter diverts such an
inappreciable amount of light from the photographic image that
it should prove useful in all cases where the light is sufficiently
intense to effect adequate exposure in a period of the order l $ d sec.
or less so that I per cent or so is sufficient for visual needs. One
such application is in the Kine Theodolite.
In some cases the light diverted for visual observation has so
seriously reduced that for photography that the beam splitter has
been avoided and a system employed which can be inserted or with-
drawn at will. Visual observation thus interrupts photography.
Besides this there is the difficulty of constructing a movable
optical system. T h e employment of the Scophony light splitter
obviates this trouble, providing the advantages of constant visual
inspection, continuous photography and a rigid mount.
Precision Vertical Measuring Machine. E. R. Watts and
Son, Ltd., 123 Camberwell Road, London, S E . 5
The measuring machine illustrated in Fig. I has been designed for
quickly and accurately checking gauges and piece parts from
0-4 in. direct to 0 ~ 0 0 0 0 5in. and by estimation to O*OOOOIin.
The instrument consists fundamentally of a precision glass scale,
the position of which is observed by a microscope. The scale is
supported in the measuring plunger, which carries the contact tip,
and is suspended by means of a thin flexible wire vertically over the
centre of the work table. T h e zero position of the scale is when the
measuring tip is in contact with the work table. The insertion of
the work piece between the contact tip and the table raises the scale
Fig. I. Precision vertical measuring maehine
VOL. 22, AUGUST 1945 I I57 1
by the height of the work, and this amount is observed in the micro-
scope and measured by means of an optical micrometer towo0001 in.
The precision of the instrument, therefore, depends primarily on
the 4 in. glass scale, and secondly on the adjustment of the optical
micrometer subdividing the main scale divisions.
The hardened and lapped work table 34 in. diameter is mounted
on a sturdy base which also supports the main vertical column. T o
allow for zero setting the work table can be adjusted for height and
then clamped. The measuring head is clamped to the vertical
column of the machine, and carries the microscope and the hous-
ings for the ball-bearing rollers which guide the measuring plunger
and provide free movement in a truly vertical plane without
rotation about the vertical axis. The head may be raised by 4 in.
on the vertical column, thus increasing the range of reading from
4 in. to 8 in. by using an additional 4 in. gauge block for the zero
setting. The measuring head casting also carries the 4 V illumina-
ting lamp, the housing of which is specially designed to avoid the
effects of heat, also the switch and two-pin socket for the trans-
former leads.
The glass scale is ruled on a stabilised block of glass, and is pro-
tected from damage and dirt by a cemented cover glass. The
length of the scale is 4 in., each inch divided into twenty sub-
divisions of 0 0 s in., every division being numbered. The glass
block is spring mounted with geometric location in the measuring
plunger, which, as has already been described, is free to move in
the measuring head, and is supported by the thin flexible wire
passing over a pulley. The end of the wire is attached to a counter-
weight inside the main vertical column, which is filled with oil as
a damping medium. The difference in the masses of the measuring
plunger and the counterpoise is adjusted to give a pressure between
the measuring tip and the work table of IZ oz. To avoid contact
with the fingers, the measuring plunger is raised for the insertion
of the workpiece by means of a lever geared to the pulley axle and
carrying a chain and knob. The oil damping controls the descent
of the plunger, which may further be controlled by means of the
chain, thus permitting the very slightest impact of the contact tip
which makes for long wear.
A reading is made by rotating the milled head of the optical
micrometer until a main scale line is set between a pair of the double
lines of the 0.01in. graticule scale. The main scale reading must be
added to that of the graticule division and the result gives a reading
to the first two places of decimals. The third, fourth and fifth
places are read off on the micrometer scale. In practice this is quite
simple and as an example the reading for Fig. z is:
Main scale 3.50
Graticule scale 0.03
Micrometer 0.00458
3-*53.+58in.
The accuracy of the reading depends
upon the precision glass scale and not
upon moving parts and this means that
the instrument is not affected by wear.
Fig. 2. Method of reading-3.53458 in.
To obtain optimum accuracy of the in-
strument room temperature should be
controlled to within 2°F. of the standard
68" F. A calibration chart for the main
scale. and corrections for this and for
temperature are given on the certificate
supplied with the instrument.