ATM Amatuer vacuum coatings.

["Sam Michael" <samm@idcomm.com>]

I haven't written anything in a while but I still read the messages from
time to time.

I have finally figured out how to get good coatings if anyone is interested.
I DID eventually figure out how to get mirrors that were bright and did not
have gray coatings :-)

More importantly, I found out what I was doing WRONG.  It was several things
by the way.

I know that no one else does this and that I am the only one here who was
crazy enough to embark on a venture of doing their own coatings but I did
eventually get it to where I can repeatable get great coatings using

        A Leak Detector (with Diffusion Pump and LN2 Cold trap) and

        A Cryogenic Pump system.

If anyone is interested, I will write more.  If not, I am happy to let this
thread die right here.

For those interested.  I did in fact spend several thousand dollars on
surplus equipment to do this, but in my defense, I now have at least 20
rotary roughing pumps, maybe 10 leak detectors with Diffusion Pumps and 6 or
seven cryo pumps and compressors.

So I do believe that for those interested, this is doable.  Don't do it to
save money thought.  Even the most expensive coater is less than this will
cost if you are planning on coating your one mirror!  :-)

I FINALLY feel like I understand vacuum coating but of course every time I
do it, I still learn more.

I will be experimenting with using other evaporants soon.  Namely Silver
that is overcoated with a light coating of Aluminum for protection.

Sam Michael