Re: [ATM] The results of the glass casting run.

["Thomas Janstrom" <thomas@moiler.com>]

Thank you.

Yes they are secondary mirror blanks, although these aren’t quite up to
snuff, they will do for proof of concept.

I have discussed building a "vacuum kiln" with my refractory supplier
and he (no surprises there) is game, but I think that some of the
problems are (well not insurmountable) going to be difficult to deal
with, one thing is that vacuum (rotary vane type anyway) pumps tend not
to like high temp air going through them. However like I said not an
insurmountable problem, just a mater of engineering really.

I am considering it for my next gen' kiln, as I think it will make a big
difference, at least in dealing with trapped water in the castable mold
materials, most of the ramping up period is given over to exhausting
this water.... As an example this casting run had to get rid of some
2.8L of water before letting the molds get to more than 200'C.

Cheers, Thomas.

-----Original Message-----
From: atm-bounces@atmlist.net [mailto:atm-bounces@atmlist.net] On Behalf
Of James Lerch
Sent: Wednesday, 12 July 2006 11:27 PM
To: 'VacuumX'; 'ATM list'; 'atm_free'
Subject: Re: [ATM] The results of the glass casting run.

Very nice work Tom, I love the creative means to an end.

Are those blanks meant to be elliptical secondaries?

Also, as my obligatory crazy idea of the day, have you considered
building a 
vacuum chamber large enough to house your kiln?   No more bubble
problems, near 
zero oxidation, reduced thermal mass, and probably better temperature
control. 
Doesn't have to be a great vacuum, a few Torrs worth of pressure should
be fine.


Take Care,
James Lerch
http://lerch.no-ip.com/atm (My telescope construction,testing, and
coating site)
http://lerch.no-ip.com/ChangFa_Gen (My 15KW generator project)

"Anything that can happen, will happen" -Stephen Pollock from:
"Particle Physics for Non-Physicists: A Tour of the Microcosmos"

" Press on: nothing in the world can take the place of perseverance.
Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with
talent.
Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.
Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts.
Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. "
                                                           Calvin
Coolidge 

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