The alignment of precision optical assemblies can be time-consuming and labor-intensive, particularly for ap- plications that need to maintain performance through harsh environments. To achieve a rugged design, op- tomechanical elements are frequently aligned and locked in place with shims that are ground and lapped to extremely tight tolerances. The grinding and lapping process can take days, weeks, or even months in select instances that require extremely tight tolerances for alignment. In this work, we present an alternative actua- tion and lock approach that can shorten alignment times without sacrificing ruggedness or alignment resolution. The faster optical alignment is achieved with an Adjustable, Re-lockable, Ruggedized, and Kinematic (ARRK) mount principle. Select experiments demonstrate the working principle of an ARRK mount, evaluate ease-of-use, and demonstrate stability through a random vibration environment. Our results suggest ARRK mounting as a promising approach for fast, robust optical mounting in applications that need to withstand vibration.
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