Zemax User Manual -

The Ansys Zemax OpticStudio user manual serves as a comprehensive guide for designing, analyzing, and optimizing optical systems, ranging from sequential lens design to non-sequential illumination. It provides technical documentation for software UI, the Zemax Programming Language (ZPL) for automation, and tolerancing analysis. For more details, visit Ansys Optics

Non-Sequential Optical Design using Zemax OpticStudio - SPIE

For Ansys OpticStudio (Current)

• Ansys Help Portal: The primary manual is now a web-based help system. Go to Help > OpticStudio Help (F1).
• PDF Download: Ansys provides PDFs of the Help system for offline use. Look under "Print Manuals" in the OpticStudio installation folder or the Ansys Customer Portal.
• The User Manual vs. The Help System: In the modern version, the "User Manual" is the Core Concepts section, while the API Reference and Command Reference are separate.

Pro Tip: Keep a local PDF copy of the legacy ZEMAXUserManual.pdf even if you use the new version. The legacy manual often explains why a function works, while the new manual explains how to click the button. zemax user manual

5. Non-Sequential Ray Tracing (NSC)

• A completely different world. The manual covers Object Types (Source, Detector, Lens, CAD part), ray splitting, and scattering models (ABg, K-correlation).

d) Scattering Models ABg Tables

While the software provides presets, the manual provides the mathematical definition of A, B, and g parameters for BRDF/BTDF.

Key Sections You Must Know

The manual is organized into logical volumes. Here are the most critical sections for any user: The Ansys Zemax OpticStudio user manual serves as

Running Analyses

To run an analysis:

1. In the Menu Bar, select "Analyze" > "Run Analysis".
2. Choose the desired analysis type (e.g., ray trace, spot diagram, etc.).

4. The Appendix is Your Cheat Sheet

The legacy ZEMAX User Manual's Appendix contains: For Ansys OpticStudio (Current)

• A full list of Glass Catalogs (Schott, Ohara, Hoya).
• A wavelength chart for laser lines (HeNe, Nd:YAG, etc.).
• Mathematical formulas for all surface types.

Adding Components

To add a component to the optical system:

1. In the System Explorer, right-click on the desired location and select "Insert Component".
2. Choose the component type (e.g., lens, mirror, etc.).
3. Set the component properties (e.g., radius, thickness, material, etc.).

6. Programming Interfaces (ZPL, DDE, and API)

• The ZEMAX Programming Language (ZPL) is documented comprehensively in the manual’s Appendix. Example: RAYTRACE and OPTRETURN functions.