[ATM] Mirror Grinding Machine

[Bob May]

Actually, the motor reequirement for  a grinding machine isn't
that much.  All you need is a constantly turning motor of some
horsepower that will keep on turning the turntable and move the
arm on the  overhead control arm.
You can do all kinds of fancy motions if you desire but the whole
thing works  well when done simply.  Motion between two surfaces
produces wear and a continously rotating motion is as good as any
other motion.
There aree two nice things  about grinding machines.  First is
that they will poroduce mirror surfaces a lot larger than cn be
dond by hand.  I'd recommend a mchine be made for any surfaces
larger than about 15", especially for the polishing stages, and
especially in the 20" + range.  The  forces just get to be so big
that you can't move the  tool by hand.  The second thing is that
the grinding machine trades time for work effort on smaller
mirrors.  You can just go and walk away from a machine for a few
minutes while it is grinding and do something eelse rather than
pushing that glass on the tool yourself.
Bob May

rmay at nethere.com
http: slash /nav.to slash bobmay
http: slash /bobmay dot astronomy.net