Erin McDermott | Spire Starter
Optical Engineering – Illumination
SUPER NICHE SUPERPOWER:
Weird LED Lit-Effects in Consumer Electronics
Other Expertise
- Luminaire Design (headlamps/lamps/track lighting)
- Root Cause Analysis in High-volume Manufacturing (figuring out system problem sources when you produce lots of widgets)
- IR & Distance Measurement Sensors (detectors that use light)
- High-powered Laser Process Development (diode and YAG lasers for use in metallurgy on assembly lines)
- BRDF Modeling (materials/surface finish characterization for use in optical simulations)
- Machine Vision System Testing (the physical side of computer vision)
Industry Specialties
Consumer Electronics, Manufacturing, Automotive, Residential and Commercial Lighting
Meeting Type
Zoom
Erin McDermott
Founder | Director of Optical Engineering
Previous Optical Engineering Examples
SpireStarter.com
For Companies
Schedule a call to talk through:
- feedback and cautions for your specific system development
- recommended root cause analysis steps if things went wrong
- recommendations for testing facilities, software, tools, or specialists for your unique system needs
For Other Optical Engineers
Chat with Erin if you need help with:
- talking through your optical design problem
- how to explain optics stuff to other engineers/stakeholders
- materials/BRDF characterizations, non-sequential optical simulations, stray light headaches
Non-optics Q’s?
Erin McDermott does other stuff besides optics. She’s also a tech magazine writer and coaches small engineering businesses and freelancers on how to be seen and connect with more paying clients. Freelancers interested in learning what their most valuable soft and technical skills are are welcome to schedule a chat.
Languages – Proficiency:
Optical Software – Proficiency:
LightTools – Speed-hacking
Breault’s ASAP, LucidShape – Been a while
TracePro, Photopia, FRED, Zemax – Minimal
CAD Software – Proficiency:
CATIA V5, Rhino, I-DEAS – Been a while
Education:
B.S. Applied Physics, concentration in Applied Optics from Kettering University (formerly General Motors Institute/GMI)
Other applicable keywords:
LED, light pipe, lightpipe, incandescent, fluorescent, non-sequential ray trace, stray light analysis, nerd, manufacturing technology, FMVSS, Kmark, tolerancing, tolerances, goniophotometer, goni, integrating sphere, steel, titanium dioxide, Ti02, surface finishes, scatter, volumetric scattering, diffusion, veiling glare, Lambertian, plastics, injection-molded optics, projector, MTF, radiometric, photometric, color temperature, mr16, reflector, indirect reflector, color mixing, intensity, lumens, glare, spot light, flood light, narrow beam, wall wash, Energy Star, IES, IES file, polar plot, roadway, night drive, high beam, low beam, texture, MoldTech, sandblasting, polish, optical simulation, RGB, pillows, gnorikel, electric scooter lamp, 12V, stability, test pattern, compliance, candela, lux