Re: ATM Machine Grinding Advice Needed

[Anthony Stillman <atmer@flash.net>]

Alfredo,

You wrote it took you 16 hours to remove that material.  By hand
1.something cubic inches an hour is fast.  By machine I would call it slow.
But then I've never ground out 18 cubic inches of glass, by machine or
otherwise.

Generating is the way to go.  As an ATM I figure on about 10 cubic inches
an hour, but my coolent system is a spray bottle.  The pro's work much
faster.

Generating is also much less wasteful of CT.  Grinding a curve removes a
lot of thickness.  And, how much is hard gage.  This doesn't much matter
with mirror, but it does with refractive elements.

A well generated surface, that is, one done professionally, will save more
than just hog time.  I've seen post generation surfaces started at 9
micron.  When you are paying someone to tend a machine, this is pretty
important.  Of course, as an ATM, ones time is priceless.  Of is that
valueless?  One of the two.

Anthony





>Is 18 cubic inches per hour slow or fast by your
>standard?
>
>Alfredo
>
>--- Anthony Stillman <atmer@flash.net> wrote:
>>
>> Alfredo,
>>
>> From the top...
>>
>>
>> >...grinding machine...8" mirror...F2.8 took about
>> 16 hours.
>>
>> That's about 18 cubic inches of glass in 16 hours.