Re: [ATM] Grinding questions

[Ken Hunter <atm_ken_hunter@yahoo.com>]

John,

First... You are NOT ALONE! 

We are here to help you in whatever course of action
you decide to take. From a standard "Cookie Cutter"
scope to pushing the envelope, we will be here to
teach and learn with you as you go along.

When you contact the company you will need to know the
diameter, material and "F Ratio" or focal length you
desire. They will go through a process called
"Generating the curve" to your desired number and will
usually get it within an inch or so. You do not have
to purchase a Pre-Generated curve if you don't want
to, but on the larger, faster mirrors, it can save a
LOT OF TIME, effort and materials! Usually the cost of
generation is about the same as the materials you
would have used to do-it-yourself so you are saving on
the TIME mainly.

To decide what diameter and f-ratio you want you'll
need to know what your specific interest in using the
scope will be. If you want "killer views" of Planets
and etc - a long focal length (high f-ratio) scope is
ideal. On the other hand, if you want wide sweeping
views of star fields and extended objects like
NEBULAE, then a shorter focal length (low f-ratio)
scope is just the ticket.

If this is your first scope and you are not yet
decided on a specific road to travel, then a
general-purpose (mid f-ratio) scope can do both. We
usually recommend a 6 inch f-8 or an 8 inch f-6 as a
beginners scope. Both will give the same views (being
48 inch fl) but the 8 inch will give a brighter image
as it catches more photons. At this size, you may not
find a generating service available but HOGGING out a
6 or 8 inch scope is trivial.

Any way, we are here to help, take it slow and easy
for there are a thousand things to learn and it's easy
to get ahead of things and then have to backtrack
(that can be expensive) but if you ask here, you can
get help here.

Happy Grinding,

Ken Hunter

owner Yahoo ATM_FREE Group (Check them out too!)
--- John Stephen <atmlist.net@johnstephen.org> wrote:

> What sort of things will places like this need to
> know, or more 
> specifically, what do I need to ask for?  I feel a
> little intimidated about 
> approaching a serious manufacturer like this (or any
> others suggested by the 
> group) since I'm just a beginner ATMer.  I'm sure
> I'll have to know what 
> type of glass, the diameter, and the thickness, but
> how do I ask for an 
> initial curve?  ATMer's call it hogging out, but
> what do the professional 
> optical shops call it?  Will they want to know the
> desired F ratio or SAG or 
> what?  Also, are there any services I'd be wise to
> ask specifically for such 
> as edging?
> 
> In case you can't tell, I'm a mild sociophobe which
> is why I'm going at this 
> 'alone' with only the web, books, and this group to
> guide me.  A couple of 
> months ago I contacted RF Royce about simply making
> a finished mirror for me 
> and he declined to make it.  I felt pretty awful
> about having someone judge 
> me as unworthy of their services (or quality) and
> don't want a repeat of 
> that.  Of course that was sort of a blessing since
> it put me on the path to 
> making my own mirror which has been pretty cool so
> far :-)
> 
> Thanks,
> - John
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Nate Jones" <njones@newlintech.com>
> 
> > I have used (3) United Lens Co. Pyrex blanks and
> they turned out fabulous.
> > I have also heard that Willman-bell kits are nice
> because they give you 2
> > blanks (one as a tool) so you could make a plaster
> tool and then you could
> > make 2 mirrors (binocular scope??) ;)
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> ATM mailing list http://www.atmlist.net/
> 


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