Schedule
Including brief notes about the session |
Class Pictures
Click Image for Photo Album |
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1: Saturday, October 16, 2004:
- 10:00 - 4:00: Workshop
- 10:00 - 11:00: Class #0
Selecting Aperture & Focal Length
- 11:00 - Noon: Class #1:
Introduction,
Overview & Rough Grinding
We are off to a good start with 6 new students
and several returning students who have
started figuring.
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2: Saturday, November 13, 2004:
- 10:00 - 4:00: Workshop
- 11:00 - Noon: Class #2: Fine Grinding
Despite snow to the south, a good turnout.
We now have two 16" mirrors underway, a first
for these mirror classes.
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3: Saturday, December 11, 2004:
- 10:00 - 4:00: Workshop
- 11:00 - Noon: Class #3: Polishing
Threatening weather kept attendance low, but
we have gotten two more students figuring.
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4: Sunday, January 9, 2005:
- 10:00 - 4:00: Workshop
- 11:00 - Noon: Class #4: Figuring
We began pouring laps for this class, as many
students are moving on to Polishing.
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5: Saturday, February 5, 2005 in Ludlow,
MA
- 10:00 - 4:00: Workshop
- 11:00 - Noon: Class #5: Testing
Chris finished his mirror, Andy is very close.
The rest of us enjoy a warm winter day and
comet observing in the evening.
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6: Saturday, March 5, 2005:
- 10:00 - 4:00: Workshop
- 11:00 - 1:00: Class #6: Constructing a Telescope
Good Turnout. 3 mirrors in final figuring.
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7: Saturday, April 9, 2005, an extra session
- 10:00 - 4:00: Workshop
- 10:00 - 4:00: Scope Construction Clinic
Dick M. finished his 16" Mirror. On a fine spring
day, many folks
cut out Dobsonian parts on the
front lawn of the bunkhouse.
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Registration continues to be strong and as in previous years,
we filled up well before class started. We enrolled 17 students, of which 9 were
returning students from previous courses, and 8 brand new students.
Attendance was a bit lower this year from last. We had moderate weather
and no cancellations. With new moons falling early in the month, we were able
to add a 7th session in April without impacting convention site preparation work.
The lower attendance for the one Sunday session (Jan 9), and one session held
in Ludlow (Feb 5) is consistent with previous years.
| Category |
Oct 16 |
Nov 13 |
Dec 11 |
Jan 9 |
Feb 5 |
Mar 5 |
Apr 9 |
Average |
| Students |
13 |
13 |
9 |
8 |
5 |
11 |
6 |
9.3 |
| Instructors |
8 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
5 |
8 |
9 |
6.9 |
| Total |
27 |
21 |
19 |
15 |
14 |
10 |
19 |
16.1 |
Students: With a large number of returning students, we had a good
mix of polishers and grinders at the start. Students came from VT
(9), MA (5), NH
(2) and NY (1).
Instructors were excellent again this year. We have now developed
a strong core of instructors that work very well in mirror class. Thank
you very much!
Completions were again disappointing, with only two mirrors actually
completed this year by the end of class. One was Dick's 16", which he did largely
on his own initiative off-site, checking in with us for guidance over the past
2 years, more so in the last few months as he was figuring. We have 2 people
who are in final figuring, and we will work them informally in the coming months,
I expect this total to increase.
Even if these complete, we will have 4/17 done, a rate of 24%, half of our
50% goal. We need to continue to improve in this area.
Facilities continue to be the biggest issue for us; they limit what
we can do in many ways. Dave Prowten has completed work on a test tunnel, and
Dave Kelly has provided us with test head with an auto-collimation flat, improving
our testing situation. We need to get a video display setup working on this
tester to improve testing throughput. Thanks to both of them for this great
work.
The above tester can only handle 12" mirrors; Dick M. had to clean out the
bunkhouse basement to make testing space for has 16", and it barely fit.
Our biggest need is more clean, heated space to adequately handle the figuring
and polishing workload we have.
Telescope Making As Brad was giving the telescope construction lecture
in session 6, he suggested we have a parts making session, so that students
without access to tools could get parts cut out if they brought materials.
We were able to schedule a 7th sessions, which turned out to be a warm and
sunny spring day, and there was a big telescope making parts party on the front
lawn of the bunkhouse. This was seen by all as a great success and great fun,
and I'm sure we will do it again next year.
Future Demand: We have 6 new students on the waiting list in April
for the next class, which is typical. With returning students from this year,
and additional new student requests coming in before the next class, it looks
like we be full next year.
Summary It was another good year with no weather related cancellations.
Two (maybe 4) completions is at half our goal. Demand remains strong. Our biggest
issue is adequate space.
