All righty, it has been a while since I posted an update. As of this morning, I've got the zipit and it's electronic hardware more-or-less operating and sending speed of light information back to the interferometer. The zipit is displaying sensor data and interferometer readouts on a simple web page. I will style up the web page in the near future. This is reliable enough for me to start working on the layout table.

I have ordered a 500 pound, 45"x16" steel layout plate with 5 t-slots running the length of the plate. Once it gets here, I have hired a machinist to cut a 1/2 inch wide slot through the middle of the plate. He will also build a steel table to place the plate on.

On the underside of the steel plate I will place the moveable optics of the interferometer. They will be mounted to moveable jaws. The moveable jaws will be shaped similar to the jaws of a caliper. The measuring points of the jaws will be inserted through the 1/2 inch slot from below the plate. The two measuring points will be able to be moved in the slot and will provide the ability to make inside and outside measurements.