Re: Alternative mirror technologies, WAS ATM Liquid-mirror telescopes

["John D. Gwinner" <gwinner@northnet.org>]

Chuck:


> I got a response that said flat mylar doesn't form a parabola 
> when drawn this way.  While I'm sure that it would be possible 
> to tension a *pregenerated parabola* with a vacuum, I don't know 
> if just flat mylar would be a reasonable choice.
...

> In anticipation of step TWO, who has a convex tool left over, that 
> I could use for a parabolic form?  (hey, y'gotta start looking for 
> supplies *early!*)


Heck, just make an epoxy parabola with the turntable technique.  Then,
vacuum form the mylar.  If you are careful with the epoxy, it might be such
that you could either charge electrostatically the epoxy to repel the mylar
just a *smidgen* above the epoxy, or just let the Mylar drape realllllly
close to the epoxy.  I don't know, just a thought.

                == John ==