To: atm{at}shore.net
From: tkrajci{at}san.osd.mil
Reply-To: tkrajci{at}san.osd.mil


> From: Ross Sackett 

> ...When you PLOP it out how big a
> mirror will this support?

I have not run PLOP on this configuration, but...

A.  My sixteen inch mirror (pyrex, 1.5 inches thick) sits on a six piont
support (six points all at the same radius - in a hexagon)...and no visible
distortion of image in the star testing done on it so far.

B.  According to a paper Richard Schwartz sent me (Thanks Richard!)...a six
point support with five surrounding one (as shown on the website) is only
about 15% worse than the six point support with six in a hexagon at same
radius.

In other words, off the cuff I think it will support up to 16 inch, 1.5
thick mirrors...but I would not go larger unless you have some good PLOP
analysis that shows otherwise.

If your mirror is thinner, then you'll need a smaller diameter.

What size (and thickness) mirror were you considering?

Tom Krajci
Tashkent, Uzbekistan

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