Re: ATM Turning lenses

["Bill T." <twentiethwave@hotmail.com>]

Ken Hunter wrote:

> The lathe is ideal for working the mounting cell for the lens but useless
> for making the lens. You do not want to get the abrasives necessary for
> glass grinding anywhere near the lathe.

But the lathe is great for cutting shaped grinding tools.

For small optics, a ~200 to ~300 RPM spindle is hard to beat.  In arid
climates, you can get everything you need in the swamp cooler section at
Home Depot: a motor with mount, a shaft, two shaft bearings, two pulleys
(max possible reduction), a belt, and a few 2x4's can put in business.  Get
an adjustable sheave for the motor drive pulley.  Adapt a small pulley to
hold the work.  Even if new, all can be bought for < $100.  A few hours at
the dump can reduce that to $0.

It's fun -- you can polish a 4" mirror in less than an hour.

Bill T.