Re: ATM armchair theorizing.

["Tom Krajci" <tkrajci@san.osd.mil>]

>From: "Bob May" <bobmay@nethere.com>

>When it comes to the looking sideways, there will indeed come a time
when
>the glass is mostly supported by a sling or side stresses against the 
>cell....

Why no consideration of bonding the cell to the mirror with RTV
silicone?  That eliminates the need for an edge sling, and retaining
clips.

My sixteen inch mirror (1.5 inches thick), is supported on a six point
cell, and is RTV'd to the cell.  I *always* invite people to start test
my scope when I take it to star parties.  So far, no complaints on
mirror distortion from faulty support.

>...I will note that
>there is a video sequence of John Dobson kicking the back end of a
>telescope of his to "relax" the mirror in its cell....

Yup, he never bothered to study compliant hinges, and how they eliminate
problems with stiction.  Maybe someday I'll meet him and ask him about
compliant hinges.  Perhaps John Dobson has become too much of an
authority figure...and Richard "the Iconoclast" Schwartz needs to be
called upon.  ;-)

Tom Krajci
Tashkent, Uzbekistan
 

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