About
An independent optical engineering practice
Imaging lens design and illumination design, from first-order layout through tolerancing and CAD handoff. Optomechanics, stray light, and multiphysics support those two when the system demands it.
Analysis and documentation are AI-accelerated, not a black box. Formlight Optics retains engineering judgment and reviews every deliverable.
Engagements typically begin with a short scoping note: the problem statement, existing data, and the decision the analysis needs to support. Fixed-fee projects. Scope, deliverables, and price are agreed in writing before work starts.
The portfolio publishes 9 case studies. Industries in those studies include medical devices, diagnostics, optical sensing, and space.
The client owns the deliverables. Files and drawings are handled under NDA. Client files are kept sandboxed and never used for AI training. An NDA can be signed before files are shared.
- Experience
- 20+ years
- Location
- Austin, Texas, serving clients worldwide
- Practice
- Optical design and analysis consulting
- Industries
- Medical devices, diagnostics, optical sensing, and space
- Case studies
- 9 published case studies
- Engagement
- Fixed-fee projects. Scope, deliverables, and price are agreed in writing before work starts.
Fit
For teams that need an optical engineer, not a fab house
Use this as a screen before you write. If the need is production glass, this practice is the wrong inbox.
A fit
- Imaging lens design or illumination design, from layout through tolerancing
- Optical judgment plus package or multiphysics coupling when that drives the decision
- First-order layout through named-tool models and CAD-ready surfaces
- A written package a mechanical team or vendor can use
- A scoped engagement with explicit assumptions
- Faster iteration with human-reviewed deliverables
Not a fit
- A fabrication house, coating shop, or production vendor
- A pure FEA/CFD house with no optical lead
- A catalog product or software license
- An AI prompt-to-prescription, or an AI tool license
- Open-ended work without a written scope
- Permission to publish a client name, logo, or the system itself
Start a project inquiry
Write with the wavelength band, the source or detector, and the decision you need.
Fixed-fee projects. Scope, deliverables, and price are agreed in writing before work starts.