Pre-aligned optical mounts

A method of making a pre-aligned optical mount, comprising:

• mounting a desired optical element onto a housing;
• securing the housing onto a stage having at least four degrees of freedom;
• aligning the optical element with a specified optical axis by adjustment of the stage;
• machining the housing to match an optical platform onto which the housing is be mounted;
• wherein the housing is machined such that an optical axis of the optical element mounted onto the housing is aligned with a predefined optical axis with respect to the optical platform when the housing is mounted onto the optical platform;
• and
• wherein the aligning the optical element with the specified optical axis comprises directing a light beam to the optical element, and performing at least one of:
• adjusting the stage in the Z- and Y-directions until a transmitted beam on a 2D lateral sensor is overlaid with its home position;
• adjusting pitch and yaw of the platform until a reflected fringe pattern is overlaid with its home position upon a camera.