ATM Adler flexed-mirror - dumb question

[Russ Pouncey <russ.pouncey@erdas.com>]

It would seem theoretically possible to use a "pushing" force on the back of
the glass while grinding the sphere. Releasing the force should allow the
glass to then relax into a parabola. The trick would seem to be allowing for
an "unfinished" rim of glass on the front surface against which the pushing
force would act. Perhaps this would become an advantage when it was time to
mount the mirror. Joseph, I like your idea.

Russ Pouncey
pouncey@erdas.com



-----Original Message-----
From: Joseph O'Neil [mailto:joneil@multiboard.com]
Sent: Friday, October 06, 2000 7:17 AM
To: atm@shore.net
Subject: ATM Adler flexed-mirror - dumb question



        i quite enjoyed that article eysterday, and a couple of us were
talking 
about it here locally , and the question came up, could one flex a mirror, 
polish it off into a sphere, release the tension, and let it "spring" (for 
lack of better words) into a parabola?
        On the surface it sounds like a neat idea, but I fear I may be too 
simplistic about it.
joe