ATM Stressed Mirrors

[baierr@einstein.franklin.edu (Richard Baier)]

>> You might at least try warping it into a parabola first - you've nothing to
>> lose.  There was an article about this in the June '92 S&T.  The author was
>> working with a 6" f/5 and claimed to be able to "tune" the mirror to a good
>> parabola.  He epoxied a machine screw to the back of the mirror and placed
>> the mirror on a piece of plywood with a ring of carpeting glued to it.  The
>> screw passed through a hole and was tightened (accomplishing the warping)
>> with a wing nut.
>> Regards,
>> Gary Seronik

I found this to be a very interesting article.  Has anyone been
to a star party and used this gentleman's telescope?  Did it give
good images? Of course you would still have to produce an excellent
sphere for the idea to work...

Take care,
Richard Baier