[ATM] Patterns of Testing: how we are messing up the hobby

["Mel Bartels" <mbartels@bbastrodesigns.com>]

Some observations that I will later weave together:

Mirror making is one of the most wonderful endeavors in amateur astronomy, 
let alone any hobby.  I liken it most to mountaineering and old time 
furniture making.

Roughly half of all who attempt it have a bad experience and do not complete 
the mirror.

Students in mirror making classses have high success rates and report 
satisfied positive experiences.

A recurring and major complaint from amateurs on the ATM and other lists is 
disatisfaction with the mirror making experience.

The stumbling block in the mirror making experience is figuring and final 
polishing.

======================================================

Over the past couple of years, I've come to realize that there is something 
deeper to telescope making, imaging, amateur observations of objects, and 
mirror making.  That's the basis of my talk a few months ago at NEAF, and 
will be the basis of my upcoming talks at ITS2005 and Table Mountain Star 
Party this summer.

Specifically in regards to mirror making, there is a "building" pattern that 
needs to be applied, adapted to each individual's situation, such that the 
person feels 'alive' or 'connected' to the 'building' experience.  If any 
part of the building pattern or experience is not properly applied or 
adjusted, that part of the building pattern will feel dead, often resulting 
in abandoning the building project.  This is true for all building patterns, 
whether mirror grinding, ultralight aircraft, furniture, you name it.

We (and I certainly include myself) have no one to blame but ourselves for 
the lack of our fellow amateurs' success.  That's because we often mess up 
the building pattern when it comes to figuring and testing, giving well 
intentioned advice that unfortunately does not hit the mark.

We mess it up in several ways, but mainly, I've thinking of how we discuss 
and advocate mirror testing.  We do it in a vacuum, without regards to the 
tester,  his or her's environment and spiritual makeup.

I said in an earlier email that there is no such thing as a 'perfect mirror' 
without taking into account the pattern of how the mirror is supported, 
secondary optics, how the mirror is used, its environment, the experience of 
the observer, and so on and so forth.

Similarly, there is no such thing as a proper or best mirror test without 
taking into account patterns of 'testing'.  It is a mistake to discuss 
mirror tests in isolation.  We must consider the pattern of testing in 
totality.  That includes everyone's unique circumstances and makeup.  Each 
person will have difference circumstances that will result in at least 
slight, if not major, adjustments to the 'testing' pattern, in order for the 
person to 'come alive' in the test and feel 'connected' and 'positive' 
towards the test, with the ultimate result of creating an optic to view the 
heavens.  If the person ends up feeling 'dead' or 'disconnected' in the 
testing phase of mirror making, then likely the project will be abandoned in 
frustration.

To discuss pros and cons of particular mirror tests is missing the point. 
We need to discuss the 'testing' pattern, and how its various 
implementations help the test come alive, causing the mirror maker to feel 
connected, and achieving a happy result.

That's why mirror classes have higher success rates than individuals in 
isolation.  A good teacher adjusts the testing pattern for each student. 
For instance, I'll nuance the Ronchi pattern matching test differently for a 
beginner with a 6 inch f/10 compared to an advanced person with a 12 inch 
f/4.  I will suggest a completely different implementation for the testing 
pattern for someone working on a flat.

Hoped for results, the techniques of the tests, the individual: all 
necessarily will have unique implementations for every single individual. 
No two people should or happily could use the exact same testing process.

Mel Bartels

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