diff --git a/examples/asc_test/master.py b/examples/asc_test/master.py
index 39825831f349fe695a02678031b8bba7c6e86505..c2e59c28f3e9f1e144ea30b72a3cab029e3ad4da 100644
--- a/examples/asc_test/master.py
+++ b/examples/asc_test/master.py
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ def pd_phase(tmpkat):
 
 	# function for root finding
 	def PD_q_test(x):
-		kat.PDrefl_q.phase1=float(x)
+		kat.PDrefl_q.phase1=x
 		out = kat.run()
 		print('\r root finding: function value {0:<16g}'.format(float(out.y)), end='')
 		sys.stdout.flush()
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ def resonance(tmpkat):
 	
 	# function for root finding
 	def carrier_resonance(x):
-		kat.ETM.phi=float(x)
+		kat.ETM.phi=x
 		out = kat.run()
 		phase = (out.y[0,0]-out.y[0,1]-90)%360-180.0
 		print('\r root finding: function value {0:<16g}'.format(float(phase)), end='')
diff --git a/examples/asc_test/master2.py b/examples/asc_test/master2.py
index 3d5209e1ce1dc26f95802368f2e3b72536634b41..f5215e70a6024b56f9a8885d42b75331d02bd6b2 100644
--- a/examples/asc_test/master2.py
+++ b/examples/asc_test/master2.py
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ def asc_phases(tmpkat):
 	kat.maxtem=1
 
 	def demod_phase1(x):
-		kat.WFS1_I.phase1=float(x[0])
+		kat.WFS1_I.phase1=x[0]
 		out = kat.run()
 		signal = out["WFS1_I"]
 		print('\r minimising: function value {0:<16g}'.format(float(signal)), end='')
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ def asc_phases(tmpkat):
 		return -1*abs(signal)
 
 	def demod_phase2(x):
-		kat.WFS2_I.phase1=float(x[0])
+		kat.WFS2_I.phase1=x[0]
 		out = kat.run()
 		signal = out["WFS2_I"]
 		print('\r minimising: function value {0:<16g}'.format(float(signal)), end='')
@@ -196,14 +196,14 @@ def asc_phases(tmpkat):
 	kat.ITM.ybeta=1e-10
 	kat.ETM.ybeta=0.0
 	res = fmin(demod_phase1, [0.0], xtol=1e-8, disp=False)
-	WFS1_phase = float(res[0])
+	WFS1_phase = res[0]
 	print("")
 	print(" WFS1 demod phase : %.10g deg" % WFS1_phase)
 	 
 	kat.ITM.ybeta=0.0
 	kat.ETM.ybeta=-1e-10
 	res = fmin(demod_phase2, [0.0], xtol=1e-8, disp=False)
-	WFS2_phase = float(res[0])
+	WFS2_phase = res[0]
 	print("")
 	print(" WFS2 demod phase : %.10g deg" % WFS2_phase)
 	return(WFS1_phase, WFS2_phase)	  
diff --git a/examples/asc_test/master4.py b/examples/asc_test/master4.py
index 314950513e80755b740070e514bf2d0557f41184..c24e504fe4607852ce9110696eda223fdbb2e85e 100644
--- a/examples/asc_test/master4.py
+++ b/examples/asc_test/master4.py
@@ -16,10 +16,10 @@ import copy
 import sys
 
 def set_thermal_lens(kat, f):
-	kat.ITM_TL.f=float(f)
+	kat.ITM_TL.f=f
 	# if a bs-based cavity is used, we need to set second lens
 	if "ITM_TL_r" in kat._kat__components:
-		kat.ITM_TL_r.f=float(f)
+		kat.ITM_TL_r.f=f
 	return (kat)
 
 def main():
@@ -91,14 +91,14 @@ def main():
 	x1=0.70
 	x2=0.30
 	if "ITM_TL_r" in kat._kat__components:
-		beam50 = beam_param(z=float(x1*beam1[1].z+x2*beam2[1].z), w0=float(x1*beam1[1].w0+x2*beam2[1].w0))
-		beam5  = beam_param(z=float(x1*beam1[1].z+x2*beam3[1].z), w0=float(x1*beam1[1].w0+x2*beam3[1].w0))
+		beam50 = beam_param(z=(x1*beam1[1].z+x2*beam2[1].z), w0=(x1*beam1[1].w0+x2*beam2[1].w0))
+		beam5  = beam_param(z=(x1*beam1[1].z+x2*beam3[1].z), w0=(x1*beam1[1].w0+x2*beam3[1].w0))
 		node_text = "at ITM->nITM1r"
 		t_comp=kat.ITM
 		t_node=kat.ITM.nITM1r
 	else:
-		beam50 = beam_param(z=float(x1*beam1[4].z+x2*beam2[4].z), w0=float(x1*beam1[4].w0+x2*beam2[4].w0))
-		beam5  = beam_param(z=float(x1*beam1[4].z+x2*beam3[4].z), w0=float(x1*beam1[4].w0+x2*beam3[4].w0))
+		beam50 = beam_param(z=(x1*beam1[4].z+x2*beam2[4].z), w0=(x1*beam1[4].w0+x2*beam2[4].w0))
+		beam5  = beam_param(z=(x1*beam1[4].z+x2*beam3[4].z), w0=(x1*beam1[4].w0+x2*beam3[4].w0))
 		node_text = "at s2->npo2"
 		t_comp=kat.s2
 		t_node=kat.s2.npo2