glass and stuff...

freek

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Sep 24, 2006
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here are some pix...


1.7m f/5 secondary
631456f8121d61de.jpg


me sitting on top of said secondary, mind you, that about 750K worth of glass-ceramic that my ass is on...
631456f8121d7d35.jpg


a null lens setup on the coordinate measurment machine i use to qualify it. it is used for testing the big mirrors
631456f8121d988b.jpg


1 of 2 8.4m primary mirrors for a binocular telescope
631456f8121db3e2.jpg


worlds largest computer generated hologram, it's in guiness book. it is used to test that secondary...
631456f8121dcf37.jpg


i'll put more pix tomorrow from work...
 
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here are some pix...


1.7m f/5 secondary
DSC00060.JPG


me sitting on top of said secondary, mind you, that about 750K worth of glass-ceramic that my ass is on...
DSC00063.JPG


a null lens setup on the coordinate measurment machine i use to qualify it. it is used for testing the big mirrors
DSC00064.JPG


1 of 2 8.4m primary mirrors for a binocular telescope
DSC00067.JPG


worlds largest computer generated hologram, it's in guiness book. it is used to test that secondary...
DSC00057.JPG


i'll put more pix tomorrow from work...

Whoa, neat pics. Feel free to use the uploader here...
 
Are those mirrors to be used there or shipped off? I thought those things had a very high tolerance, so high that I'd think walking on them would be a nono. No?
 
Are those mirrors to be used there or shipped off? I thought those things had a very high tolerance, so high that I'd think walking on them would be a nono. No?

90% of our stuff is shipped of to some mountain top. the heat from my ass is enough to through the figure of most mirrors off. the material that that mirror is made of is zerodur, a glass ceramic material which is a zero expansion glass, ie if ya heat it or cool it, it will not change size.

as long as we don't scratch the surface or chip it, sitting on it is not a problem in the manufacturing. heat generally affects testing.

How did you get into that field?

i have an AAS in laser tech and one in fiber optics. i worked at a company that manufactured optical components as a maintainance/warehouse worker while i was going to school. i showed interest in the optical shop and they asked me if i wanted to work there.

ideally, if you have a background in astronomy (making scopes) / eyeglass manufacture, you could do this. it just takes an interest.

How much does that weigh?
the glass that I'm sitting on itself is 850 lbs. you can tell a bit by the picture the it is machined. the glass has been light weighted by milling out a honey comb structure from the back.

the 8.4m primaries weigh ~10 tons.
 
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I dont see the hologram, is it like one of those magic eye pictures where if I look past it I will see a donkey show?

no, a sailboat... the holograms we use for testing are a bunch of rings, think target logo but w/ 1000 rings on it...

Can you make me a giant magnifying glass that I can mount on my roof and use to burn kids that run across my lawn?

yes, send print for quote...
 
no, a sailboat... the holograms we use for testing are a bunch of rings, think target logo but w/ 1000 rings on it...

I used to love the one at the store in Country Side mall that was the chick in a bathrobe and as it rotated she would flash away from you. The hours I spent there trying to get a glimpse of her titties, dam thing :mad: :fly:
 
8.4m primary close up, notice the honeycomb structure...
631457097420703a.jpg


same...
6314570974204d15.jpg


the casting oven, glass chunks get melted down and flow into the mold. it also spins @ ~4rpm to impart a curve to the surface
6314570974202dd6.jpg


a 19" aspheric lens on a cnc mill
6314570976c1a0dc.jpg

6314570976c1c401.jpg


not all mirrors are round
6314570976c1e728.jpg

6314570976c20a50.jpg


a reference body for an adaptive optic secondary, ~1m, thats 672 holes if your wondering, all put in by hand. measured on the CMM
6314570976c22d75.jpg


close up of center hole w/ probe, calibration ball(white), reference ball(silver)
6314570976c2509d.jpg
 
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