Re: ATM "Frozen" liquid mirrors -Reply

[BRYAN LEENHEER <BLEENHEE@millersqa.com>]

Here's an idea that popped into my brain after reading that last post...

Back story:  When I was a wee lad, I took apart the filter for my dad's
aquarium.  I wanted to know how it could move water around without
spilling all over.  What I discovered was that the shaft of the motor was
attached to a magnet, which was driving a separate magnet in the
basin of the filter.  This magnet had fins on it which would push the
water in a circular motion.

Idea:  Use the basin of water to buffer the rotational changes of the
motor. Position a decently powered magnet with some water driving
fins in the bottom of a plastic basin.  Drive this magnet with another
magnet which is attached to the shaft of a motor.  The timing idea is
good to 'fine tune' the speed of rotation.

Postulate:  This method will automatically place the floating spincast
mirror at zenith, preventing vortices in the epoxy substrate.  The water
in the basin will buffer the rotational oscillations of the motor,
preventing ripple.  And It's simple enough that a seven year old kid
without a computer could do it!

Later!

Bryan Leenheer
Holland, Michigan

...Clouds and rain...