Re: Restoring-Meade 6 inch

Ceragioli@uh.edu
Mon, 10 Jul 1995 11:25:48 -0500 (CDT)

I have a slit-type Foucault tester which I made by modifying a University Optics kit. It has served me well and I can recommend this type of tester. You don't need the Univ. Optics kit to start from. Just follow (with discretion: forget the lead parts) Texereau's diagram.

An eyepiece that you can rotate into the return beam to examine the focused image is very helpful! I use an old 25mm Kellner. Frost the light blub well (fine sandpaper seems to work); otherwise the illumination across the slit (and the mirror under test) won't be even.

The advantage of a slit tester seems to me to be not only a brighter mirror image to test, but also that you can spot a turned down edge easily (Texereau talks about this).

Roger Ceragioli@uh.edu