2009-10 Stellafane Mirror Class
Session 7 held on 2010-Apr-10

Last Class this Year

This day we wrapped up another mirror class for the year - one of the best every, the students this year were one of the best we have worked with. Now it's time to work on Convention, our 75th since they started in 1926.

2009-10 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 7 held on 2010-Apr-10 Last Class this Year Looking across the room at the Fletcher House towards the test tunnel - grinders at right, polishers to the left and center.

2009-10 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 7 held on 2010-Apr-10 Last Class this Year David, Rick, Rick and Dave (with Claudio sitting). Plaid shirted Rick and navy shirted Dave are instructors; the other three are figuring their mirrors.

2009-10 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 7 held on 2010-Apr-10 Last Class this Year Instructors Dave & Ken relax on the side for the moment, keeping an eye on the class while chatting. At the bottom, Sarah is polishing while Michael walks in from the right.

Grinding

The grinders are near the room entrance, keeping their coarse grit away from the polishers at the rear.

2009-10 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 7 held on 2010-Apr-10 Grinding John, Nicholas & Sarah are grinding on benches.

2009-10 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 7 held on 2010-Apr-10 Grinding Leonard is grinding on a wooden 'barrel'.

2009-10 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 7 held on 2010-Apr-10 Grinding Francis is fine grinding a flat on a wooden 'barrel'.

Pressing & Channeling Laps

With many students polishing or figuring, a lot of lap maintenance work gets done...

2009-10 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 7 held on 2010-Apr-10 Pressing & Channeling Laps Kate and mother Cecilia both press their laps with body weight.	2009-10 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 7 held on 2010-Apr-10 Pressing & Channeling Laps Samantha takes notes while her lap is pressed with barbell weights.	2009-10 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 7 held on 2010-Apr-10 Pressing & Channeling Laps David leans on his mirror-lap stack, adding more weight to the barbell weights already on top.
2009-10 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 7 held on 2010-Apr-10 Pressing & Channeling Laps Quite a group is gathered around Dave as he warms a lap under a heat lamp.	2009-10 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 7 held on 2010-Apr-10 Pressing & Channeling Laps Samantha warms her lap; Tatiana glances at it; Carl uses a knife to open channels and Zhenya has a seat at the table.	2009-10 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 7 held on 2010-Apr-10 Pressing & Channeling Laps On the deck, Dave re-channels Samantha's 10 inch lap.
2009-10 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 7 held on 2010-Apr-10 Pressing & Channeling Laps Site manager John talks with Carl while he re-channels a lap.	2009-10 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 7 held on 2010-Apr-10 Pressing & Channeling Laps Ken made this heated channel cutter for mirror class, but somehow the cat food can drip catcher got lost.	2009-10 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 7 held on 2010-Apr-10 Pressing & Channeling Laps Carl adjusts the blade of the heated channel cutter while Ken looks on.

Polishing & Figuring

Most students are polishing or figuring, many working to finish up their mirrors this class.

2009-10 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 7 held on 2010-Apr-10 Polishing & Figuring Claudio concentrates while figuring his mirror.	2009-10 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 7 held on 2010-Apr-10 Polishing & Figuring David polishes his mirror.	2009-10 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 7 held on 2010-Apr-10 Polishing & Figuring Rick is figuring an 8 inch.
2009-10 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 7 held on 2010-Apr-10 Polishing & Figuring Dave demonstrates a figuring stroke to Cecilia, who is just about completely figured.	2009-10 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 7 held on 2010-Apr-10 Polishing & Figuring Moving over to the next bench, Dave shows Kate the proper stroke for her mirror.	2009-10 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 7 held on 2010-Apr-10 Polishing & Figuring Dave adds a little extra oomph to press David's mirror.
2009-10 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 7 held on 2010-Apr-10 Polishing & Figuring Rob cleans his mirror prior to testing.	2009-10 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 7 held on 2010-Apr-10 Polishing & Figuring Randy is figuring his 8 inch mirror.	2009-10 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 7 held on 2010-Apr-10 Polishing & Figuring Tatiana works on her 4¼ inch mirror.
2009-10 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 7 held on 2010-Apr-10 Polishing & Figuring Samantha rides her bench side-saddle as she polishes her 10 inch mirror.	2009-10 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 7 held on 2010-Apr-10 Polishing & Figuring Carl demo's a stroke to Zhenya.	2009-10 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 7 held on 2010-Apr-10 Polishing & Figuring Zhenya polishes his 6 inch mirror.

Testing

Of course, when you are figuring, you need to stop and test frequently. Dick brought his tester up this session to double our capacity and speed things along.

2009-10 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 7 held on 2010-Apr-10 Testing Dick's very portable tester. A flat is in the box at left; extendable control rods for alignment extend from the mirror stand on the right.	2009-10 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 7 held on 2010-Apr-10 Testing Dick settles in to test a mirror in the game room.	2009-10 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 7 held on 2010-Apr-10 Testing Kate & Dave chat while Dave changes peg locations in his tester to handle Kate's mirror.
2009-10 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 7 held on 2010-Apr-10 Testing Rick & Randy chat; Dave has his head in the tester, and Rick sits while waiting his turn.	2009-10 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 7 held on 2010-Apr-10 Testing Randy made this version of the 'Stellafane Tester'	2009-10 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 7 held on 2010-Apr-10 Testing Michael made this tester, the corner brace being a key component to keep things simple.

Various & Sundry

Plenty of other things go on during mirror class; here are a few photos of some of them.

2009-10 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 7 held on 2010-Apr-10 Various & Sundry Phil chats with mirror class leader Jay (trusty Clipboard at the ready - it's like the University Mace, the symbol of authority and leadership for mirror class!)	2009-10 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 7 held on 2010-Apr-10 Various & Sundry With little hair on Ken's head, Ray tries to add something more.	2009-10 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 7 held on 2010-Apr-10 Various & Sundry Ken (center) shows off the scope he is building and documenting on the web; Dave & Michael have a look.
2009-10 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 7 held on 2010-Apr-10 Various & Sundry David, Phil and Samantha at the solar scopes in the parking lot.	2009-10 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 7 held on 2010-Apr-10 Various & Sundry Student Ryan built this scope for his mirror.	2009-10 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 7 held on 2010-Apr-10 Various & Sundry Sarah takes a break and does some gaming.
2009-10 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 7 held on 2010-Apr-10 Various & Sundry Sarah's bright nails caught our eye against her fine ground mirror.	2009-10 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 7 held on 2010-Apr-10 Various & Sundry Samantha and Zhenya share earphones and a tune while Tatiana hangs out with them.	2009-10 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 7 held on 2010-Apr-10 Various & Sundry With mirror class done, we moved our equipment back to Stellafane at the end of the day. Ray helps Carl secure the test tunnel in his truck.