From: "CSC" 
To: "Atm" 
Reply-To: "CSC" 


        My working flex mirror is a small, slow one.  8" f/7 which isn't a real
wow
scope by anyone's standards, but you ought to see the planets! I made a
series of similar mirrors, just haven't got the time to perfect the
spherical figure.
        In running Adler's flex.exe program, I'm sure you noticed that the
tolerances get mighty tight with the large aperture.  If you're intent on
pushing this envelope farther than anyone I know, I'm all for it.  If it
somehow seems to not work after debugging it, you've still got a spherical
mirror to figure.  New cell and voila!

        For the tolerances, I'd make sure a lathe is used to make all the
circular
pushers and pullers and mounting plates.  If the tolerances can be held,
then why couldn't it work?  I would be better than our 16" Meade
anyway. What f# are you thinking?  over 5, I'd hope, as the wedge gets
impossibly small below that.




Hi Colin,

I've read some of your posts regarding the flexing of mirrors. I'm curious
how it worked out and I'd like to know if you recommend others (such
myself) to attempt this. I have a 16" by 1 inch thick mirror which I'd
like to flex so I'd appreciate any advice you may have.

I have the mirror side hogged out but it currently has a flat on the back
side which I'm considering to shape into a concave sphere.

Thanks,


Peter

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