20cm f4.2 mirror

 

GRINDING

January 2000

The pyrex disc (205x 20mm) is hollowed out to approx. f4.5 by J.Eindhoven in Haaksbergen.
I cast a 4 cm thick plaster disk on it and after 1 week drying I glued 19x19x2 mm porcelain tiles on it  with epoxy resin. Distance between the tiles ca 7 mm. Overhanging tiles at the edge were nibbled smaller with a pair of pliers.

Start with C320 powder

It took 85 minutes MOT(mirror on top) and TOT(tool on top) to remove all the obvious pits( I marked them on the backside of the mirror).I used 1/3 and ¼ W-strokes and straight strokes.

C600 powder
60 minutes TOT and MOT.I bevelled the edge again with a fine grinding stone( grade 400, to prevent chipping)

C800
90 minutes MOT and TOT
1/3 -1/4   W stroke and straight stroke.

C1200
1/3-1/4 W and straight strokes
I was busy for 95 minutes.In the end I could see 12-print through the mirror .

POLISHING

February 2000

I made a pitchlap from old, hard pitch. Squares of 3 cm.
I polished most of the time in sessions of 30 minutes, MOT and TOT. Polishing agent: cerium oxyde suspension in water with some drops of soap solution.
To test the surface  I used a clear 25 W lamp and a focussing lens. In that way I could focus the bright filament on the glass surface.

180 min: reflection still strong

330 min: reflection much weaker

560 min : no reflection visible( with magnifying glass)on edge

CORRECTION  first try

Nov 11, 2000

Ronchi test: spherical with TDE (turned down edge)

I made a soft correcting lap from old hard pitch and some turpentine 

Step 1   MOT

1/3 W stroke very slow

Result: spherical with TDE

Step 2   MOT

½ W-stroke : 5x 1 turn (pressing with 2 kg weight for several minutes between the turns)

Ronchi : straight lines 

Step 3  MOT

8x 1 turn 2/3 W-stroke

Ronchi:lines start to bulge. Flat center,though

Foucault test (5 zone Couder mask)

Zone        Measurements       Parabola

5          0,7                              2,43 mm

3          0,3                              1,28

1           0                                0

Step 4      MOT

  1. ¾ W-stroke more on center 3×1 turn
  2. 2/3 W-stroke 2×1 turn

Ronchi:bulging center lines, edge more flat

Step 5    MOT

½ W-stroke very narrow  3x 1 turn

No change

Step 6     MOT

10 minutes 1/3 narrow W-stroke

Ronchi : parabola

Fouc    zone    Meas.      Parabola

1            0           0

2         0,8         0,70

3        1,9         1,28

4         2,3         1,83

5         2,8         2,43

Step 7  Decrease correction    MOT

Central area of pitchlap(ca 5 cm diamter) is scratched away.Less work on center!

Narrow 1/3 W-stroke 7 min.

Ronchi : still hole in center

Fouc.

Zone    Meas.    Parabola

1            0                 0

2          0,9  mm       0,7mm

3           1,4           1,28

4           1,9           1,83

5           2,2           2,43

Step 8     MOT

Increase correction and   get rid of central hole

Central part of pitch  scratched away

 

  1. 1/3 W-stroke (narrow) : 3 turns around (8 W-strokes per turn around)
  2. ½ W-stroke wide 2x 1 turn around

 

Ronchi : looks better now

Fouc.   Zone       meas.         Parabola

1               0             0

2             0,7           0,7

3             1,0           1,28

4             1,4           1,83

5             1,8           2,43

Step 9      MOT

a.  1/3 W-stroke with pitch scratched away in central 5 cm : 4 turns around.

  1. Renewed warm pressing to get all the pitch into full contact again.

Then: 2/3 W-stroke to increase correction 2x 1 turn

Ronchi: looks OK

Fouc.

Zone       meas.         Parabola

1         0             0

2        0,63          0,7

3        1,1            1,28

4        1,7           1,83

5        2,3           2,43

-After this , I used the Ross test which is described in Telescope Making Journal. I found undercorrection with the Ronchi lines in the test.
I made a new pitchlap  which I “initiated”by doing 3 turns with 1/3 W MOT.In hindsight this was no good idea: the pitchlap should be saturated with polishing agent to get an even polish

 

Step 10   MOT

Increase correction: 2/3 W-stroke 2 x ½ turn  (cold pressing in between)

Still undercorrected

Step 11
Same as  step 11: still undercorrected

Step 12

MOT 2/3 W-stroke 4x ½ turn

Ross test: ronchi lines straight

Startest  feb 13, 2001: star image astigmatic at 88x. The astigmatism rotates with the main mirror.

SO THIS IS A FAILURE…

 

 

Start again with a much thicker pyrex disk

 

Grinding and polishing the same as with the previous disk.Astigmatism wasn’t visible at 140x ( in the beginning of polishing). Polishing took 10,5 hours.

 

CORRECTION : nearly always done with mirror on top(MOT)

First try

I made a soft pitchlap from Gugolz 55 with some 64
The pitch squares were made smaller going from center to edge( tapered pitchlap)
Polishing agent : cerium oxyde

Step 1

MOT 1/3-1/4 W-stroke : slow with little pressure : 3x 15 min

Ronchi : weak bulge

Fouc: good surface ( no dog biscuit)

F=837 mm

Step 2   MOT

2/3 W-stroke  5x 1 turn around
Ronchi: big central bulge: no correction in outer zones

Step 3   MOT

a.1/3 W-stroke narrow   5 turns

b.½ W-stroke 2×1 turn

Ronchi: better, outer zones starting to parabolize.

Step 4   MOT

2/3 W-stroke narrow 2×1 turn

Test: outer zones not enough correction( big central bulge in Ronchi and parallel outer lines)

Step 5   MOT

½ W-stroke narrow 5x 1 turn
Test : about the same as step 4

Step 6

Scratch away central pitch area((ca 3 cm)
MOT  ½ W-stroke 3 turns
Fouc

Zone   meas.

1         0

2         0,24

3         0,80

4         1,04

5         1,17 mm

Step 7

½ W-stroke 3×1 turn

Fouc
Zone    meas.

1           0

2           0,14

3          0,63

4          0,91

5          1,01

Step 8

Scratch away top layer of the pitch and do a hot press

2/3 W-stroke 2 turns

Test: undercorrection, kink in Ronchi lines near 80%

August 2001

Step 9

2/3  narrow W-stroke 4x ½ turn

Ronchi: outer zones too little correction

Step 10

2/3 W-stroke narrow (to do more work on outer zones) 2x1turn

Ronchi: outer zones too flat

Step 11

I made the pitch squares  narrower(more tapered) in the edge area

½ W-stroke 2x 1 turn

Test: a little bit more correction 

Step 12

I have to get rid of the flat outer zones!

½ W-stroke very narrow:2×1 turn

Test: kink in Ronchi lines near outer zones weak

Step 13

2/3 W-stroke very narrow: 2×1 turn

Test : about the same

Step 14

2/3W-stroke a bit wider than 13: 2×1 turn
Test : correction increased,kink still present

Step 15

2/3 W-stroke narrow 2x 1 turn
Test(ronchi) : looks OK

Step 16

2/3 W-stroke less narrow 2×1 turn
Test: kink still present

Step 17

½ W-stroke narrow 2x 1 turn
Kink still present.

Step 18

  1. 1/3 W-stroke narrow 2×1 turn
  2. 2/3 W-stroke narrow : 2×1 turn
    Test: looks better

Step 19

a.1/3 W-stroke narrow 2×1 turn

b. 2/3 W-stroke narrow 2x 1 turn

Test: undercorrection

Step 20
MOT
a. 1/3 W-stroke narrow : 2x 1 turn
b. 2/3 W-stroke 3×1 turn

test : undercorrection ; kink near 70% in Ronchi lines.

Step 21

  1. 1/3 W-stroke narrow 3 x1 turn
  2. 2/3 W-stroke narrow 2×1 turn

Test: undercorrection and central area too flat

Step 22

2/3 W-stroke 2x 1 turn

Test : kink near 70% in Ronchi

Fouc.

Zone   Meas.      Parabola

1        0             0

2        0,35          0,73

3        0,85          1,34

4        1,90          1,92

5        2,57          2,55

2 meas. +/-  0,05

Step 23

Central area has too little correction
a. 1/3 W-stroke 5 turns

b.2/3 W-stroke wide 2x 1 turn

Zone     Meas.         Parabola

1        0             0

2        0,50          0,73

3        1,28          1,34

4        1,98          1,92

5        2,77          2,55

Step 24

  1. Decrease correction 1/3 W-stroke 10 turns
  2. Parabolizing stroke : 2/3 W- wide 1 turn

Fouc:

zone       meas.         Parabola

1        0             0

2        0,6           0,73

3        1,2           1,34

4        2,0           1,92

5        2,8           2,55

Step 25

Decrease correction

TOT ¼ W-stroke narrow 10 turns

Test

zone     meas.         Parabola

1        0             0

2        0,50          0,73

3        1,10          1,34

4        1,90          1,92

5        2,56          2,55

Step 26

  1. 10cm pitchlap with starfish shape : straight stroke 0,5-1 cm left of center 3 turns
  2. MOT 20 cm lap 1/3 W-stroke 6 turns

 

Fouc.

Zone      Meas.      parabola

1             0             0

2             0,47          0,73

3             1,10          1,34

4             1,83          1,92

5             2,56          2,55 little change!

 

Step 27
a. 10 cm starlap(see 25) straight stroke 1cm left of Center :5 turns

b.  MOT 20 cm lap 1/3 W-stroke 5 turns

fouc.

Zone     meas.         Parabola

1        0             0

2        0,5           0,73       no improvement

3         1,15          1,34

4        1,8           1,92

5        2,6           2,55

Step 28

a.2/3-3/4 W-stroke very wide 2×1 turn: deepen center

  1. TOT 1/4W-stroke 10 turns

Test: hole in center!

1    0

2    1

3    1,8

4    2,4

5`   3,2

 

Step 29

1/3 W-stroke with pitch scratched away in central area: 6 turns

Zone      Meas.

1            0

2            1,0

3            1,6

4            2,3

5             3,1

Step 30

MOT ¼ W-stroke  8turns

Ronchi : hole in center and uneven lines

Step 31

MOT 1/5-1/4 W-stroke 10 turns

Zone     meas.

1        0

2        1,1

3        1,6

4        2,0

5        2,7  Ronchi: hole in center

Step 32

I scratched away  the central 5 cm of pitch

1/3 W-stroke  5 turns

Ronchi: hole in center still clear

Step 33

  1. Small pitchlap (diam 4 cm) W-stroke on area outside central hole : 3 turns.I want to blend the hole in the general curve.
  2. 20 cm lap MOT (central area scratched away)

1/3 W-stroke  3 turns

½ W-stroke     2 turns

Test : looks somewhat better

Step 34

Repeat of step 32

20 cm tool with central pitch scratched away

Test:

Zone       meas.

1               0

2               0,25

3               0,45

4               1,0

5               1,7

Now we have a flat center and a long edge 

Step 35  : On the way back tot a sphere for  this is a disaster!

TOT 1/5-1/3 straight stroke  2x 10 min

1    0

2    0

3    0

4    0,2

5    0,5 mm

Step 36

  1. TOT 1/3-1/5 straight stroke 10 min
  2. MOT improve the surface: 30 min 1/3 W-stroke with light pressure and a diluted ceriom oxyde suspension.

CORRECTION  : SECOND TRY 

New pitchlap,made from Gugolz 55.

Pitch squares are now less tapered towards the edge

August 28,2001

First, the pitchlap will be saturated with cerium oxyd : 15 min MOT  1/3 W-stroke(slow)

Test : spherical; surface a bit spotty.

Step 1

MOT  1/3 W-stroke, slow with dilute Cerium oxyd suspension

Test: surface better; weak hill in center

Step 2

MOT ½ W-stroke 3×1 turn. Pitchlap slightly tapered towards the edge.

Test

1    -0,1

3    0

5    0 mm   Hill in center

Step 3

MOT  2/3 W=-stroke 2x 1 turn

Test : no change 

Step 4

MOT 2/3 W-stroke 2x 1turn

Test

1    0

3    0,09

5    0,13 mm

Step 5

2/3 W-stroke 4×1 turn

Test

1    0

3    0,56

5    0,76

Crests too far outside : more work on edge with narrower stroke 

Step 6

2/3 narrow W-stroke 2×1 turn

Test

1    0

3    0,52

5    0,91   Better! 

Step 7

2/3 W-stroke 2×1 turn; more on center

1    0

3    0,56

5    0,95

Step 8

2/3 W-stroke narrow 3x 1 turn

1    0

3    0,70

5    1,21

Step 9 : more work on edge

2/3 W-stroke narrow: 2×1 turn

1    0

3    0,6

5    1,2  Crests have moved out  . OK!

The crests are the shadows visible on the mirror at  50 % travel of the knife edge of the Foucault tester . They should be at about 50%

Step 10

2/3 W-stroke 3×1 turn

1    0

3    0,77

5    1,47   crests OK

Step 11

2/3 W-stroke  3×1 turn

1    0

3    0,90

5    1,72  crests OK

Step 12

2/3 W-stroke 3×1 turn

1    0

3    0,95

5    1,96 crests too far out

Step 13

2/3 W-stroke wide 2×1 turn

1    0

3    1,20

5    2,26  crests OK

Step 14

2/3 W-stroke normal(not narrow and not wide) 2x 1turn

1    0

3    1,23

5    2,32  crests OK

Step 15

2/3 W-stroke normal 2x 1 turn

1    0

3    1,21

5    2,45 Crests moving out

Step 16

1/3 W-stroke wide

1    0

3    1,27

5    2,55

Sept 2,2001

New meas.

Ronchi : kink at about 70 %

Zone   Meas.         parabola

1           0             0

2         0,31          0,73

3        1,25          1,34

4         2,02          1,92

5         2,49          2,55

I should have measured more zones before! Now there is a flat center..

Step 17

a. TOT W-stroke with edge of tool on zones 2-3    2 turns

b. TOT ½ straight stroke to diminish high edge

1    0

2    0,30

3    1,18

4    1,93

5    2,36
no improvement

Step 18

Have to work on center and edge

MOT
a. ¾ W-stroke wide 1 turn
b. 2/3 W-stroke narrow 1 turn

1    0

2    0,49

3    1,31

4    2,08

5    2,63
center  deeper now

Step 19

a .MOT ¾ W-stroke wide 1 turn
b. MOT 1/3 W-stroke 3x 1 turn : smoothing

1    0

2    0,44

3    1,13

4    2,12

5    2,74
No good!

Step 20

  1. 10 cm starlap : deepen center : straight stroke 1 cm next to center : 6 turns
  2. Smoothing and bringing back correction : TOT ¼-1/3 W-stroke narrow 10 turns

Zone         meas.        Parabola

1                0             0

2               0,4           0,73

3               1,0           1,34

4               1,6           1,92

5                2,2           2,55

Step 21

10 cm starlap straight stropke 0,5-1 cm left of Center : 5 turns

Difference zone 1- zone 2 = 0,3 : No good

Step 22

2/3 W-stroke 2x 1 turn

Test : kink near 70% in Ronchi

Fouc.
Zone    Meas.      Parabola

1        0             0

2        0,35          0,73

3        0,85          1,34

4        1,90          1,92

5        2,57          2,55

2 meas. +/-  0,05

Step 23

Central area has too little correction
a. 1/3 W-stroke 5 turns

b  .2/3 W-stroke wide 2x 1 turn

Zone     Meas.         Parabola

1        0             0

2        0,50          0,73

3        1,28          1,34

4        1,98          1,92

5        2,77          2,55

Step 24

  1. Decrease correction 1/3 W-stroke 10 turns
  2. Parabolizing stroke : 2/3 W- wide 1 turn

Fouc:
zone       meas.         Parabola

1           0             0

2          0,6           0,73

3          1,2           1,34

4          2,0           1,92

5         2,8           2,55

Step 25

Decrease correction

TOT ¼ W-stroke narrow 10 turns

Test
zone     meas.         Parabola

1        0             0

2        0,50          0,73

3        1,10          1,34

4        1,90          1,92

5        2,56          2,55

Step 26

  1. 10cm pitchlap with starfish shape : straight stroke 0,5-1 cm left of center 3 turns
  2. MOT 20 cm lap 1/3 W-stroke 6 turns

Fouc.

Zone      Meas.        parabola

1             0             0

2             0,47          0,73

3             1,10          1,34

4             1,83          1,92

5             2,56          2,55 little change! 

Step 27


a.10 cm starlap(see 25) straight stroke 1cm left of Center :5 turns

b. MOT 20 cm lap 1/3 W-stroke 5 turns

Fouc.

Zone     meas.         Parabola

1        0             0

2        0,5           0,73       no improvement

3        1,15          1,34

4        1,8           1,92

5        2,6           2,55

Step 28

a. 2/3-3/4 W-stroke very wide 2×1 turn: deepen center
b. TOT 1/4W-stroke 10 turns

Test: hole in center!
Zone     Meas.

1          0

2          1

3         1,8

4         2,4

5`        3,2

Step 29

1/3 W-stroke with pitch scratched away in central area: 6 turns

zone  meas

1        0

2        1,o

3        1,6

4        2,3

5        3,1

Step 30

MOT ¼ W-stroke  8turns

Ronchi : hole in center and uneven lines

Step 31

MOT 1/5-1/4 W-stroke 10 turns

Zone     meas.

1        0

2        1,1

3        1,6

4        2,0

5        2,7  Ronchi: hole in center

Step 32

I scratched away  the central 5 cm of pitch

1/3 W-stroke  5 turns

Ronchi: hole in center still clear

Step 33

  1. Small pitchlap (diam 4 cm) W-stroke on area outside central hole : 3 turns.I want to blend the hole in the general curve.
  2. 20 cm lap MOT (central area scratched away)

1/3 W-stroke  3 turns

½ W-stroke     2 turns

Test : looks somewhat better

Step 34

Repeat of step 32

20 cm tool with central pitch scratched away

Test:

1    0

2    0,25

3    0,45

4    1,0

5    1,7

Now we have a flat center and a long edge 

Step 35  : On the way back tot a sphere. This is a disaster!

TOT 1/5-1/3 straight stroke  2x 10 min

1    0

2    0

3    0

4    0,2

5    0,5 mm

 

Step 36

  1. TOT 1/3-1/5 straight stroke 10 min
  2. MOT improve the surface: 30 min 1/3 W-stroke with light pressure and a diluted ceriom oxyde suspension.

 

CORRECTION  : THIRD TRY

 

New pitchlap,made from Gugolz 55.

Pitch squares are now less taperd towards the edge

August 28,2001

First, the pitchlap is broken in : 15 min MOT  1/3 W-stroke(slow)

Test : spherical; surface a bit spotty.

Step 1

MOT  1/3 W-stroke, slow with dilute Cerium oxyde suspension

Test: surface better; weak hill in center

Step 2

MOT ½ W-stroke 3×1 turn. Pitchlap slightly tapered towards the edge.

Test

1    -0,1

3    0

5    0 mm   Hill in center

 

Step 3

MOT  2/3 W=-stroke 2x 1 turn

Test : no change

 

Step 4

MOT 2/3 W-stroke 2x 1turn

Test

1    0

3    0,09

5    0,13

 

Step 5

2/3 W-stroke 4×1 turn

Test

1    0

3    0,56

5    0,76

Crests too far outside : more work on edge with narrower stroke

 

Step 6

2/3 narrow W-stroke 2×1 turn

Test

1    0

3    0,52

5    0,91   Better!

 

Step 7

2/3 W-stroke 2×1 turn; more on center

1    0

3    0,56

5    0,95

 

Step 8

2/3 W-stroke narrow 3x 1 turn

1    0

3    0,70

5    1,21

 

Step 9 : more work on edge

2/3 W-stroke narrow: 2×1 turn

1    0

3    0,6

5    1,2  Crests have moved out  . OK!

The crests are the shadows visible on the mirror at  50 % travel of the knife edge between center and edge . They should be about 50%

Step 10

2/3 W-stroke 3×1 turn

1    0

3    0,77

5    1,47   crests OK

Step 11

2/3 W-stroke  3×1 turn

1    0

3    0,90

5    1,72  crests OK

Step 12

2/3 W-stroke 3×1 turn

1    0

3    0,95

5    1,96 crests too far out

Step 13

2/3 W-stroke wide 2×1 turn

1    0

3    1,20

5    2,26  crests OK

Step 14

2/3 W-stroke normal(not narrow and not wide) 2x 1turn

1    0

3    1,23

5    2,32  crests OK

Step 15

2/3 W-stroke normal 2x 1 turn

1    0

3    1,21

5    2,45 Crests moving out

Step 16

1/3 W-stroke wide

1    0

3    1,27

5    2,55

Sept 2,2001

New meas.

Ronchi : kink at about 70 %

Zone    Meas.         parabola

1            0             0

2         0,31          0,73

3         1,25          1,34

4         2,02          1,92

5         2,49          2,55

I should have measured more zones before! Now there is a flat center..

Step 17

a.TOT W-stroke with edge of tool on zones 2-3    2 turns

b.TOT ½ straight stroke to diminish high edge

1    0

2    0,30

3    1,18

4    1,93

5    2,36  no improvement

Step 18

Have to work on center and edge

MOT a. ¾ W-stroke wide 1 turn

  1. 2/3 W-stroke narrow 1 turn

1    0

2    0,49

3    1,31

4    2,08

5    2,63  center  deeper now

Step 19

a.MOT ¾ W-stroke wide 1 turn
b. MOT 1/3 W-stroke 3x 1 turn : smoothing

1    0

2    0,44

3    1,13

4    2,12

5    2,74    No good!

 

Step 20

  1. 10 cm starlap : deepen center : straight stroke 1 cm next to center : 6 turns
  2. Smoothing and bringing back correction : TOT ¼-1/3 W-stroke narrow 10 turns

zone     meas.        Parabola

1           0             0

2          0,4           0,73

3          1,0           1,34

4          1,6           1,92

5           2,2           2,55

Step 21

10 cm starlap straight stropke 0,5-1 cm left of Center : 5 turns

Difference zone 1- zone 2 = 0,3 : No good

Step 22

TOT Narrow W-stroke with edge of tool on center 2 turns

Test : zone-1 – zone-2 =0,5  : better

Step 23

The same as 22

Test : zone1-zone2 = 0,55

Ronchi : smooth lines,maybe a bit scruffy

Step 24

MOT 1/3 W-stroke  very light pressure and very thin CeO2 suspension

5 turns  MIRROR OK