Methods and systems for aligning an optical instrument

A method for aligning a beam in an optical instrument, the method comprising:

• powering ON the optical instrument including first and second lenses driven respectively by first and second motors, and further including first and second motor position encoders, wherein the first and second lenses define focal lengths of substantially equal magnitude and opposite polarity, and wherein the second lens is positioned to directly receive the beam passing through the first lens;
• actuating the first and second motors to respectively move the one or both of the first and second lenses to a calibrated position, wherein the calibrated position corresponds to a desired optical beam path alignment at which the beam passes through the first and second lenses;
• maintaining power to the first and second motors as long as the optical instrument is powered ON;
• and
• using feedback from the first and second motor position encoders to maintain the calibrated position as long as the optical instrument is powered ON,
• wherein the first and second motors are rotary motors having a first rotation axis and a second rotation axis, respectively,
• wherein the first rotation axis is parallel to the second rotation axis, and
• wherein moving the one or both of the first and second lenses to the calibrated position includes actuating one or both of the first and second rotary motors to swing the one or both of the first and second lenses along their respective arcuate paths.