Micromirror spectrophotometer assembly

An instrument, comprising:

• a diffraction grating to disperse broadband light over a range of wavelengths;
• a detector;
• a digital micromirror device (DMD) configured to scan through and reflect at least a portion of the range of wavelengths toward the detector;
• a base platform to align and secure the diffraction grating, the detector, the digital micromirror device (DMD), and at least one optical component in a predetermined arrangement;
• and
• a reference paddle, wherein:
• the reference paddle includes a reference material for calibration of the instrument;
• and
• a motor is configured to rotate the reference paddle to cover a sample window of the instrument for calibration of the instrument.

A platform for an instrument, comprising:

• a plurality of assembly mounts integrally formed as a base platform to align and secure a diffraction grating, a detector, a digital micromirror device (DMD), and at least one optical component in a predetermined arrangement, wherein the plurality of assembly mounts comprise:
• a first integral seat formed for a first optical component of a focusing optics assembly;
• and
• a second integral seat for a second optical component of the focusing optics assembly, the first integral seat and the second integral seat being separated by a predetermined spacing along an optical pathway.