From: "Vladimir Galogaza" 
To: "ATM shore" 
Reply-To: "Vladimir Galogaza" 


Jerry,

>Does any of the current software in use by ATM'ers depict a cross
>section of the actual curve of the surface of the mirror.

There are some (Sixtests for example). But mirror curves they generate are
realistic to the extent
given by accuracy of measurements.

In your case there is another problem. Given a true cross-section, it is
question how to correct it
toward required conic by hand polishing method.

I think that if this question will have unique answer this list will not
exist and Bob will be out of
business. Amount of experience in "action-consequence-action" 
recursion is hard to replace
with verbal instructions. Like in any art.

>The outer 3 zones of my mirror are focusing long, which would seem to
>indicate that I need to work on those zones,

It seems but actually if they are turned down you should generate glass on them
if you want to keep center intact.

>If I work the center, that deepens it, which also has the end result of
>making the outer zones focus even longer

Relatively to center zones yes. But absolutely they are still at the same ROC
as before.
Meaning that you cant correct tde by working only at the center. You have
to work from the center to the very edge. If in that process you manage to
make again tde you are at the beginning ( but possibly closer).
(depending on  tolerance margins you accept,  1/4 wave  or 1/20  or.......)
This iteration is meaningful to the extent given by gradient of your
learning curve.
If you find out by trial and error that you are not able to go further than
certain amount of tde than you either accept this (Santo Pansa approach or
in
ATM parlance "edge masking") or fight it ( Don Quixote approach).

Vladimir.

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