ATM Re: atm-digest V1 #730

[Bob Lombardi <blombard@iu.net>]

>
On Wed, 04 June 1997, you wrote...
>Date: Wed, 04 Jun 1997 09:06:01 -0700
>From: David Sleeter <sleete19@idt.net>
>Subject: ATM Identify Optical Flat?
>
>I also have an optical flat of whose quality I'm unsure. It is 
>rectangular, about 1" thick x 8" wide x 12" tall and mounted vertically 
>in a black anodized aluminum case. The label says "Optical Collimator 
>FLIR", Texas Instruments). Some lettering below that says "Item 2 of 3", 
>and there are all the endless numbers and codes you find stamped on 
>surplus military stuff. Anyone know if it's of suitable quality for 
>testing mirrors and lenses? I bought it at the 1996 RTMC swap meet.
>
>Dave Sleeter
>
>Dave Sleeter
>- -- 
>Life is short and the path is often unclear.
>It is a great sin to knowingly contribute to someone's confusion.
>

If I may take a stab at this, a FLIR system is an infra-red targeting system
used for guiding planes in hazy conditions (or night).  Pretty sure they are
also used for guiding the "smart bombs" we hear so much about.  So you're
right, it is a military item and is a milspec optical flat.

Just based on that, and my 8 years working for a military contractor (an
experience that is, thankfully, just a memory ;-) I would say that the flat
met whatever requirement it was specified to meet, and is probably very good
quality.  *At infra-red*.  At the shorter visible wavelengths that I guess
you're concerned about, it's almost certainly degraded.  Without contacting
the manufacturer, who (if they're like my former employer) will give you a
run around and not tell you anything anyway, you'll have to test it to know
if it's any good.



All the best,
Bob


Bob Lombardi            WB4EHS in Melbourne, FL                   \---\---\
blombard@iu.net    or   blombard@freenet.fsu.edu       __@            |     
Bicycling, telescope making, optics, astronomy,      _`\<_            |
Radio Design, piano, SW and ham radio               (*)/ (*)          |
Visit the ATM Resource List at http://www.freenet.tlh.fl.us/~blombard |