[ATM] Mirror cells - some professional literature and ideas foramateurs

[tkrajci at san.osd.mil (Tom Krajci)]

>From: Michael Lindner <mikell@optonline.net>

>As for your question, a flotation cell and sling does that (handles
axial >and lateral forces on two separate mechanical systems). If you
don't like >slings, Fr?d?ric G?a's site has a piano wire lateral support
at
>http://astrosurf.com/altaz/lateralsupport.htm

When I get back to the US, and get back into mirror making again...I
will test various support schemes and see what works well.  I want to
minimize stiction as much as possible in mirror cell design.

>An alternate design I'm playing with for lateral support is to hang
>"straps" down the back of the mirror and glue them to the back (hanging
the >mirror much like a picture frame). Additional straps can constrain
side->side movement.

Sounds promising!  My initial design/test pathway will be to study cells
that have no edge support...and that combine lateral and axial support
in one mechanism.  I'll probably make the cell 'low profile' by bending
the beams/triangles.  It'll be some time before I get ready to test this
stuff...I am not due to rotate back to the US until summer 2004.  I hope
I can stay open to ideas and objective about this stuff as I make larger
and thinner mirrors.

The "Sherman spot test" (could also be called the Maksutov spot test)
will come in handy for this testing.

Tom Krajci
Tashkent, Uzbekistan


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.512 / Virus Database: 309 - Release Date: 8/19/2003