Patent ID: 7672068

Claim:
In a system for use in producing an optical assembly which itself includes a light path and an optical component to be positioned in said light path as part of the optical assembly, a method comprising the steps of: defining a support surface as part of said optical assembly; providing movement means for controlling alignment movements of the optical component in a particular way relative to the light path; supporting said optical component using at least one foot which forms one part of a support arrangement for supporting the optical component; directly engaging said foot with said movement means; biasing the foot against the support surface in a movement mode which permits movement of the foot against the support surface; using the movement means, moving the foot against the support surface in the movement mode to orient said optical component in said particular way with respect to said light path; locking said foot against the support surface; and with continuing use of the movement means, biasing the foot against the support surface in a locked mode and deforming a shape of the foot to further orient said optical component with respect to said light path.