kenneth.kaiser@gmail.com spake thus:

Let me guess; does it involve two mirrors?

If so, then this is indeed a very precise way to align *any* enlarger.
(Assuming that the attitude of the enlarger head can be adjusted.)

So far as your question goes, I would strongly advise against trying to
post a raw, naked Word document. Piss-poor format for this kind of
information interchange.

Do you know enough basic HTML to make a simple web page with the
instructions? If so, that would be the best way to post this (assuming
you have access to a small amount of web space somewhere). If not, the
2nd-best alternative would be to make a PDF from the Word document
(assuming you have software to do this), upload the PDF to a web site
and post a link to it.

An alternative way to post here is to use text only (not Word doc
format) and draw rough diagrams using ASCII text keyboard characters.
Kind of old fashioned but very universal.
Example;
      .-.                     .-.
      .--' /                     \ '--.
      '--. \       _______       / .--'
          \ \   .-"       "-.   / /
           \ \ /             \ / /
            \ /               \ /
             \|   .--. .--.   |/
              | )/   | |   \( |
              |/ \__/   \__/ \|
              /      /^\      \
              \__    '='    __/
                |\         /|
                |\'"VUUUV"'/|
                \ `"""""""` /
                 `-._____.-'
            jgs    / / \ \
                  / /   \ \
                 / /     \ \
              ,-' (       ) `-,
              `-'._)     (_.'-`

On May 13, 4:36 pm, "kenneth.kai...@gmail.com"
<kenneth.kai...@gmail.com> wrote:

I am posting the document text which should describe the alignment
method well enough to determine interest. If any one is interested in
more information, I can forward the word document, with photos to
them. I have seen this alignment method used extensively on optical
benches, but not on enlargers.
Thanks
Ken
Precision Enlarger Alignment System     Kenneth W. Kaiser

1) Introduction

I purchased a used Omega D-2 enlarger for making 16 by 20 inch prints
from 4 by 5 inch negatives and 20 inch long prints from 5-inch long 35
mm panoramic negatives.

After refurbishment and installation of a good enlarger lens, came the
task of enlarger alignment.
I tried levels, rulers and squares, two mirrors looking at each other,
but could never get a good sharp edge-to-edge image on the enlarger
easel to my satisfaction.

The problem with these methods, and others that were not tried, is
that they really do not align the plane of the actual negative to the
plane of the enlarger easel.

I decided to install tilt and swing adjustments on the enlarging lens,
just like the 4 by 5 view camera, and use the Scheimpflug Principle
for enlarger alignment.

The tilts and swings are adjusted with the negative in place and a
wide-angle grain focuser on the easel.

This method of alignment worked so well that I made a second tilt-
swing alignment assembly for my 35 mm enlarger.

Mathematical analysis indicates that only a small amount of tilt-swing
adjustment is needed for alignment of the actual negative plane to the
plane of the enlarger easel.
The two cases considered are a 4 x 5 inch negative enlarged to 16 x 20
inches and a 35 mm negative enlarged to 8 x 10 inches.
Calculations show that + / - 1/8 inch of easel tilt requires + / -
0.0078 inch of negative tilt for sharp focus with the 4 x 5 inch
negative.
For the 35 mm negative, + / - 1/8 inch of easel tilt requires + / -
0.00125 inch of negative tilt for sharp focus.

Standard micrometer heads were used for precision adjustment of the
lens plane. Micrometer heads provide a smooth precision adjustment of
tilt-swing and are easy to use in the dark.

2) Tilt-Swing Alignment System Description

The tilt swing alignment system consists of two flat aluminum plates
5.5 by 5.5 by 0.25 inches. Each plate has a hole in the center. The
lens is mounted on the lens plate. The enlarger plate is mounted to
the enlarger at the lens location and has a hole in the center for the
light to enter the lens. Figure # 1 shows the overall assembly
installed on the 35 mm enlarger. Figure # 2 shows the alignment
assembly installed on the Omega D-2 enlarger. Figure # 3 shows the
alignment assembly mounted on the Omega enlarger cone.

Precision Enlarger Alignment System     Kenneth W. Kaiser     page 2

Figure # 1

Figure # 2

Precision Enlarger Alignment System     Kenneth W. Kaiser     page 3

Figure # 3

The lens is mounted at the center of the lens plate.
The lens plate has three 0.375-inch holes drilled in it at location C
and three 0.25-inch holes drilled in it at location M in Figure # 4.

The enlarger plate has three 0.25-inch by 20 tapped holes in it on
centers of the C lens plate holes labeled S in Figure # 5.

The lens plate, with lens, is spring loaded to the enlarger plate with
three compression springs mounted with 0.25 by 20 by 1 inch bolts at
location S. See Figure # 6

Precision Enlarger Alignment System     Kenneth W. Kaiser     page 4

Figure # 6

Three micrometer heads are mounted to the lens plate at location M,
each with a 4 - 40 set screw.
When the micrometers are adjusted, they push the lens plate away from
the enlarger plate. Adjustment of the three-micrometer heads provides
both swing and tilt to the enlarger lens.
The two-plate assembly is mounted to the enlarger with two 6 - 32 nuts
and bolts.
The assembly is oriented with two-micrometer heads at the rear of the
easel and one head in front. This orientation is shown in Figures # 1
and # 2.

Although there are alternative geometries for lens tilt and swing,
this geometry is easily constructed with common household tools.

3) Use of the Alignment System

Tilt and swing is set to zero by adjusting the three-micrometer heads
for a uniform gap between the lens plate and the enlarger plate.
This is easily done with a 1/8-inch diameter drill rod for a gauge
between the two plates.

A wide-angle grain focuser is used to focus the image at the center of
the easel with the enlarger focus knob and tilt-swing set to zero.

Precision Enlarger Alignment System     Kenneth W. Kaiser     page 5

The lens optics causes an adjustment reversal through the lens.
The wide-angle grain focuser is placed at the lower left corner of the
easel and the rear right micrometer head is adjusted for sharp focus.
The grain focuser is placed at the lower right corner of the easel
with adjustment of the rear left micrometer head for sharp focus.
The grain focuser is then placed at the upper center of the easel and
the front center micrometer is adjusted for sharp focus.

The focus at the center of the easel is rechecked for sharpness.
It is usually still sharp, but if not, repeat the process and a second
go around is all that is needed.
I check alignment after changing negatives, and often find that it
must be adjusted again. This sensitivity is evidence that the
conventional methods of enlarger alignment are crude and alignment can
be improved with a tilt-swing system like this.

This system provides good sharp edge-to-edge image focus, which is
further improved by stopping down the enlarger lens.

3) Materials

Micrometer heads, quantity 3
Micrometer heads are available from www.use-enco.com.
Model # 604-2200 is about $39 each
Aluminum plates 5.5 by 5.5 by 0.25 inch, quantity 2
Springs, quantity 3
Springs are obtained from a local hardware store and size is
determined by inspection
Bolts ¼ - 20 - 1 inch, quantity 3
Set screws, 4 - 40, quantity 3
Bolts, 6 - 32, quantity 2
Nuts, 6 - 32, quantity 2
__________________
__________________
!    S
S    !                                        !                                  !
!                                  !                                       !
C        M         C    !
!
LENS            !                                       !                                  !
!
HOLE            !                                      !
LENS            !
!                                  !                                       !                                  !
!
S                 !                                       !    M
C         M    !
!_________________!                                       !
_________________!

Figure # 5   Enlarger Plate                                  Figure #
4   Lens Plate

RE: On May 13, 1:36 pm, kenneth.k wrote:

There are two conditions for exact alignment.
First the planes of the negative and easel must
be parallel. Second the optical axis of the lens
must be perpendicular to both the negative
and the easel.

If the projected image of a square object is square
upon the easel then the two conditions have been
met.

Any body who has made the minute adjustments to
negative and lens stages knows the process can be
frustrating. A few hand tools, a square, and high
power reading glasses have done for me. Now
I've doubts the glasses are needed. Dan