A crosshair reticle provides a visible centre and two reference directions inside a viewing or alignment instrument. It supports repeatable positioning of a target, optical axis or component edge.
Specify optical glass or fused silica, overall dimensions, thickness, pattern-side orientation and the clear aperture. Define transmission, reflectance or optical density at the working wavelength when optical contrast is critical.
In surveying telescopes, alignment optics and astronomical guiding eyepieces, the intersection locates the target relative to the instrument axis. An open centre preserves small target details; heavier outer arms help the eye find the centre.
Crosshairs, encoder circles and surveying readoutLine visibility depends on image brightness, magnification and illumination. Pattern focus and target focus are separate adjustments; moving the eye across the exit pupil reveals residual relative motion.
Distinguish eyepiece focus from parallaxA crosshair reticle provides a visible centre and two reference directions inside a viewing or alignment instrument. It supports repeatable positioning of a target, optical axis or component edge.
Use a plain cross for centring, an interrupted cross when the target centre must remain visible, or a graduated cross when positional offsets also need to be compared.
A plain cross establishes position and direction. A crossed scale adds length references; concentric circles add radial references. In an aiming optic, the apparent angular value depends on the optical design and reticle plane.
Line width, centre gap, arm length, angular reference marks and clear field can be defined independently. Pattern centring must refer to the mounting datum that actually locates the disc.
A patterned optical disc for integration into the viewing assembly, with the cross geometry and its position defined relative to the part.
Reference centres for viewing and optical alignment.
Visible pointing reference in a compatible telescope focal plane.
Centre and direction reference for aiming and optical alignment.
It supplies a reference centre, not a calibrated length. Quantitative offsets require graduations or a calibrated image coordinate system.
No. A continuous crossing suits strong centring references; a gap suits targets whose central detail must remain visible.
Pattern placement is one contribution. Optical alignment, mounting, focus and the instrument calibration also affect the result.
Crosshair reticles add a centre and two reference directions to an instrument field for aiming, centring and optical alignment.
Choose line width, central opening and arm length for the viewing magnification; locate the intersection relative to the mounting datum.
Line width, arm length, centre gap, intersection position, outline, thickness, film side and illumination.
It reduces obstruction of a small target while the surrounding arms retain a centre reference. Choose the opening for the observation task.