Segment, Customer and Geographical Reporting (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 10,406,000	$ 10,239,000	$ 32,899,000	$ 29,745,000
Gross Profit	$ 3,927,000	$ 4,033,000	$ 11,969,000	$ 11,299,000
GM %	38.00%	39.00%	36.00%	38.00%
SG&A	$ 3,601,000	$ 3,550,000	$ 11,443,000	$ 11,415,000
(Gain) loss on sale of assets	0	8,000	(4,000)	(178,000)
Operating Income (Loss)	326,000	475,000	530,000	62,000
Depreciation and Amortization	288,000	312,000	939,000	898,000
Capital expenditures	336,000	291,000	1,342,000	747,000
Intangibles, Net	1,096,000	1,252,000	1,096,000	1,252,000	$ 1,225,000
Goodwill	5,940,000	6,191,000	5,940,000	6,191,000	6,131,000
Total Assets	25,722,000	26,883,000	25,722,000	26,883,000	$ 24,462,000
Optics [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	5,780,000	5,613,000	18,415,000	15,781,000
Gross Profit	$ 2,012,000	$ 2,006,000	$ 6,330,000	$ 5,222,000
GM %	35.00%	36.00%	34.00%	33.00%
SG&A	$ 1,604,000	$ 1,380,000	$ 5,237,000	$ 4,964,000
(Gain) loss on sale of assets	0	8,000	(4,000)	(178,000)
Operating Income (Loss)	408,000	618,000	1,097,000	436,000
Depreciation and Amortization	247,000	223,000	700,000	631,000
Capital expenditures	330,000	270,000	1,224,000	666,000
Intangibles, Net	549,000	722,000	549,000	722,000
Goodwill	1,001,000	1,252,000	1,001,000	1,252,000
Total Assets	16,752,000	16,665,000	16,752,000	16,665,000
Contract Research [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	4,626,000	4,626,000	14,484,000	13,964,000
Gross Profit	$ 1,915,000	$ 2,027,000	$ 5,639,000	$ 6,077,000
GM %	41.00%	44.00%	39.00%	44.00%
SG&A	$ 1,601,000	$ 1,934,000	$ 5,107,000	$ 5,712,000
(Gain) loss on sale of assets	0	0	0	0
Operating Income (Loss)	314,000	93,000	532,000	365,000
Depreciation and Amortization	24,000	74,000	187,000	222,000
Capital expenditures	0	0	37,000	4,000
Intangibles, Net	239,000	273,000	239,000	273,000
Goodwill	4,939,000	4,939,000	4,939,000	4,939,000
Total Assets	8,546,000	9,462,000	8,546,000	9,462,000
Biomedical [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	0	0	0	0
Gross Profit	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
GM %	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
SG&A	$ 396,000	$ 236,000	$ 1,099,000	$ 739,000
(Gain) loss on sale of assets	0	0	0	0
Operating Income (Loss)	(396,000)	(236,000)	(1,099,000)	(739,000)
Depreciation and Amortization	17,000	15,000	52,000	45,000
Capital expenditures	6,000	21,000	81,000	77,000
Intangibles, Net	308,000	257,000	308,000	257,000
Goodwill	0	0	0	0
Total Assets	$ 424,000	$ 756,000	$ 424,000	$ 756,000