Segment, Customer and Geographical Reporting (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019		Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2019		Mar. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 11,532,000		$ 10,255,000	$ 21,560,000		$ 19,443,000
Gross profit	$ 4,358,000		$ 3,945,000	$ 8,050,000		$ 7,485,000
GM %	38.00%		38.00%	37.00%		38.00%
Operating expenses	$ 4,034,000		$ 3,865,000	$ 7,851,000		$ 7,609,000
Operating income (loss)	324,000		80,000	199,000		(124,000)
Depreciation and amortization	355,000		311,000	693,000		610,000
Capital expenditures	360,000		426,000	561,000		1,050,000
Intangibles, net	701,000		997,000	701,000		997,000	$ 755,000
Goodwill	5,900,000		6,009,000	5,900,000		6,009,000	5,900,000
Total assets	31,142,000		29,517,000	31,142,000		29,517,000	$ 31,532,000
Optics [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	6,226,000		5,910,000	11,947,000		10,853,000
Gross profit	$ 2,159,000		$ 2,050,000	$ 4,009,000		$ 3,740,000
GM %	35.00%		35.00%	34.00%		34.00%
Operating expenses	$ 1,871,000		$ 1,858,000	$ 3,756,000		$ 3,433,000
Operating income (loss)	288,000		192,000	253,000		307,000
Depreciation and amortization	292,000		247,000	566,000		477,000
Capital expenditures	313,000		339,000	497,000		928,000
Intangibles, net	358,000		455,000	358,000		455,000
Goodwill	961,000		1,070,000	961,000		1,070,000
Total assets	21,482,000		20,903,000	21,482,000		20,903,000
Innovation and Development [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	5,306,000	[1]	4,345,000	9,613,000		8,590,000
Gross profit	$ 2,199,000	[1]	$ 1,895,000	$ 4,041,000		$ 3,745,000
GM %	41.00%	[1]	44.00%	42.00%		44.00%
Operating expenses	$ 2,141,000	[1]	$ 1,813,000	$ 4,020,000		$ 3,537,000
Operating income (loss)	58,000	[1]	82,000	21,000		208,000
Depreciation and amortization	60,000	[1]	61,000	120,000		126,000
Capital expenditures	47,000	[1]	58,000	64,000		77,000
Intangibles, net	145,000	[1]	179,000	145,000	[1]	179,000
Goodwill	4,939,000	[1]	4,939,000	4,939,000	[1]	4,939,000
Total assets	9,456,000	[1]	8,028,000	9,456,000	[1]	8,028,000
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%
Operating expenses	$ 22,000		$ 194,000	$ 75,000		$ 639,000
Operating income (loss)	(22,000)		(194,000)	(75,000)		(639,000)
Depreciation and amortization	3,000		3,000	7,000		7,000
Capital expenditures	0		29,000	0		45,000
Intangibles, net	198,000		363,000	198,000		363,000
Goodwill	0		0	0		0
Total assets	$ 204,000		$ 586,000	$ 204,000		$ 586,000

[1] Formerly Contract Research