continuing the giant binocular

[savarin]

Good news on the regrind. The new tool conformed in 30 seconds.
I plastered the mirror and tool with a sharpie pen,
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800 grit small wag and overhang and this was the wear after 30 seconds only.
The grey smears are the grit slurry as I only wiped near the gouge.
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After 35 mins I almost removed the scratch from this (quite deep)
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To this
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Removing it completely has taken 2 hours so far to get to a teeny pit thats almost invisible but does show up with a blue laser shone in from the edge.
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The red laser didnt show anything.
So far there appears to be no change in focal ratio.

[Adasha_Machining]

You're a wizard, Charles. Amazing stuff. I've never worked with glass before (successfully) so this is incredible to me.
Hell, there's even lasers involved!



This has been a remarkably long term project. I can't wait to see the final result.

[savarin]

Thanks Shawn but if I was a real wizard it would have been completed years ago, still I am getting there.The grinding and polishing is very tedious.

[Adasha_Machining]

I can only imagine...

I'm still here for the ride. Still can't wait to see what these can really do. I certainly hope you figure out a way to attach a camera to them.

[chips and more]

It's taking longer than it should because he is making and eating to many pavlova pies

[Bill Gruby]

 He's taking Drama classes at the same tine He's at the part where they keep you guessing.

  "Billy G"

[TerryWerm]

Eating too many schnitzel maybe.

Oh, wait! That would be AUSTRIA, not AUSTRALIA!!



Enjoying the build, Charles!! Keep 'em coming!

[savarin]

All gouges and scratches removed, focal length has reduced from desired 72" to actual 70" but as long as I get the second mirror down to that theres no problem.
Did some major milling today. The base for the polishing lap was around 8mm higher on one side than the other so I had to mill it flat.
No milling machine, wont fit on the lathe so I milled it on the drill press.
This side must be milled down to the pencil line.
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As its only plaster I could hold it by hand and move it around till I got it evenly flat.
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Now to pour the polishing compound on to it when it totally dry.
4 hours in the oven at 90'C didnt dry it fully.