ATM First light. X-point support ?? Why not infinite ??

[Carl Brennan <carl@pader-online.de>]

I have been waiting  to star-test my 6inch polished mirror
(no coating) for a long time. Focault tests told me that it
was close to 1/8 wave so I thought mount it in a tube and 
see how it performs. There was a quarter moon in the sky
providing a good target. Turning the 'scope on it for the
first time (and not really knowing what to expect I held my breath !)
I was absolutely thrilled with the sharp picture of the moon I got
with the uncoated mirror. (ok, the moon is an easy target.
I'll do a REAL star-test at a later date) This being my first
mirror I got a real kick knowing that I was seeing what I was
seeing because of my skills as a (very) Amateur Telescope Maker.
I stood there in the garden for ten minutes with a silly grin on
my face. Is this a great hobby or what ??

In the process of putting the OTA together I constructed my own
mirror cell. It's made of wood and works very well.The mirror lies
on a flat piece of MDF which has holes drilled in it to provide
ventilation. My question is:  why do some (most) cell designs
call for the mirror to rest on a system of points rather that be 
supported over the entire back- surface of the mirror. Is it a weight
problem or are the dynamics of the point system better in some
way that is not clear to me ??
Carl Brennan
Paderborn,Germany
Email: carl@pader-online.de