2006-2007 Stellafane Mirror Class
Session 2 held on 2006-Nov-11

Grinding at the Bunkhouse

The new class is enthusiastically working away, making good progress on grinding both inside and outside the bunkhouse, on an unusually balmy late fall day.

2006-2007 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 2 held on 2006-Nov-11 Grinding at the Bunkhouse Jay talks about Grit Jay is giving a short lecture on fine grinding, using a grit display for illustration.	2006-2007 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 2 held on 2006-Nov-11 Grinding at the Bunkhouse Fine Grinding Explained It's easy to do when you have a clipboard!	2006-2007 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 2 held on 2006-Nov-11 Grinding at the Bunkhouse Randall Bevels Randall leans into beveling on the bunkhouse lawn.
2006-2007 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 2 held on 2006-Nov-11 Grinding at the Bunkhouse "The Porch" Samantha grinds while her parents relax on our newly enclosed porch. Thanks to Tom, we now have some extra space to work in.	2006-2007 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 2 held on 2006-Nov-11 Grinding at the Bunkhouse "Sag" Check Dave check's Samantha's sagitta, while she reads the dial indicator.	2006-2007 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 2 held on 2006-Nov-11 Grinding at the Bunkhouse Tom checks in Tom checks in with Samantha and Dave, making sure his new enclosed porch is being well used and the mirror is progressing along.
2006-2007 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 2 held on 2006-Nov-11 Grinding at the Bunkhouse Rick Rick is working outside: lots of elbow room and comfortable temperature.	2006-2007 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 2 held on 2006-Nov-11 Grinding at the Bunkhouse George & Rick George & Rick make good off-season use of the T-shirt tables.	2006-2007 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 2 held on 2006-Nov-11 Grinding at the Bunkhouse Cleaning Up Rick is giving his tool a through cleaning between grits.
2006-2007 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 2 held on 2006-Nov-11 Grinding at the Bunkhouse Elizabeth grinds She is doing a nice job on fine grinding.	2006-2007 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 2 held on 2006-Nov-11 Grinding at the Bunkhouse Steve Steve is again working on his portable grinding table.	2006-2007 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 2 held on 2006-Nov-11 Grinding at the Bunkhouse Isaac & Jeremy Both have advanced to micron sized grits - nice progress!

It's the Pits

Checking the pits to see if you are done with a grit is a frequent activity in fine grinding.

2006-2007 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 2 held on 2006-Nov-11 It's the Pits Jay checks the pits Elizabeth is anxious to know if she is done with her current grit size.

2006-2007 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 2 held on 2006-Nov-11 It's the Pits Grit Display The microscope slides on the top row are show the pit size for the corresponding grit in the tube below.

2006-2007 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 2 held on 2006-Nov-11 It's the Pits Side-by-Side Pits Jeremy & Isaac use a slide ground with only one grit to compare to the pits on their mirrors.

Solar Observing

Many of us took a short break from mirror class to do some solar observing. There was one very large sunspot that was either splitting or merging, and it was quite a treat to see.

2006-2007 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 2 held on 2006-Nov-11 Solar Observing Schupmann on the Sun With the new domed observatory in the foreground, the 13" Schupmann Medial Refractor with 8" solar filter in place aims at the sun.	2006-2007 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 2 held on 2006-Nov-11 Solar Observing Full Aperture A full 13" aperture Badder solar filter is tested out. Deb enjoys a book on the bench out front.	2006-2007 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 2 held on 2006-Nov-11 Solar Observing John Observes the Sun He was elected club president that evening.
2006-2007 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 2 held on 2006-Nov-11 Solar Observing Brad Observes the Sun He became the immediate past president that evening.	2006-2007 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 2 held on 2006-Nov-11 Solar Observing Brad at the Eyepiece The CCD Camera port is the focuser on top.	2006-2007 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 2 held on 2006-Nov-11 Solar Observing Solar Monocular Al observes with Junie's Solar Monocular, while Junie and Jeff chat.

Pitch Laps

We poured a few pitch laps this session, although we only have photos of one.

2006-2007 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 2 held on 2006-Nov-11 Pitch Laps Preparing the Mirror Wayne prepares his mirror with a masking tape dam to hold the liquid pitch.	2006-2007 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 2 held on 2006-Nov-11 Pitch Laps Wayne melts Pitch Having broken up the hard pitch with the hammer, Wayne is melting it down so that it will flow into his mold.	2006-2007 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 2 held on 2006-Nov-11 Pitch Laps A New Lap Wayne is poking the bubbles out of his newly poured lap.
2006-2007 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 2 held on 2006-Nov-11 Pitch Laps Is it cool? Wayne checks the edge stiffness, judging when to pull of the tape.	2006-2007 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 2 held on 2006-Nov-11 Pitch Laps Channeling Wayne channels the new laps, which is covered with pink Cerium Oxide.	2006-2007 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 2 held on 2006-Nov-11 Pitch Laps Jay stirs the Pitch Master chef Jay stirs a new batch of melting pitch.

Plaster Disks

To be ready to make pitch laps next session, several students had plaster disks poured, allowing plenty of time for them to cure and dry. Tom is our "Plaster Master" and shows how it is done.

2006-2007 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 2 held on 2006-Nov-11 Plaster Disks Ingredients & Tools A plastic collar fits over the mirror, a glass of water to mix with plaster, and a cordless drill with mixing bit are all ready for action.	2006-2007 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 2 held on 2006-Nov-11 Plaster Disks "Plaster Master" Tom The master moves in on the tools, about to show his stuff.	2006-2007 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 2 held on 2006-Nov-11 Plaster Disks Mixing Plaster Julia Child couldn't have done it any better.
2006-2007 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 2 held on 2006-Nov-11 Plaster Disks Pouring Plaster A clean pour right into the mold. The mirror is below, so the plaster disk will match it's curvature.	2006-2007 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 2 held on 2006-Nov-11 Plaster Disks Interviews Like any famous athlete, Tom does interviews after the main event is over. If you are real nice, you may get an autograph :-)	2006-2007 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 2 held on 2006-Nov-11 Plaster Disks A Big Plaster Tool Here's a big plaster tool being used on the 16" mirror. See below for more machine grinding pictures.

Machine Grinding

Wayne & Jeff refurbished the grinding machine last year, now they are using it on a 16" mirror.

2006-2007 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 2 held on 2006-Nov-11 Machine Grinding Wayne adds Grit Wayne is adding grit while the machine hums along. Isaac & Jeremy are learning how machine work differs from hand work.

2006-2007 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 2 held on 2006-Nov-11 Machine Grinding Wayne adds Water You have to keep your grinding wet, by machine or by hand.

2006-2007 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 2 held on 2006-Nov-11 Machine Grinding Nice Spherometer! Wayne's homemade 3-ball, digital spherometer is checking the "sag" on the 16" mirror.

Polishing, Figuring & Testing

Fran, Joyce, Eileen & Scott were polishing and figuring this session. Scott completed a very fine mirror today!

2006-2007 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 2 held on 2006-Nov-11 Polishing, Figuring & Testing Paul demonstrates Paul is demonstrating a stroke, while Eileen watches intently. Scott is doing some final figuring in the background.	2006-2007 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 2 held on 2006-Nov-11 Polishing, Figuring & Testing Eileen, Joyce & Scott Eileen & Joyce work on their mirrors, while Scott is waiting for the tester.	2006-2007 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 2 held on 2006-Nov-11 Polishing, Figuring & Testing Fran's 12" Fran works on his 12.5" mirror, which will be a Classical Cassegrain primary.
2006-2007 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 2 held on 2006-Nov-11 Polishing, Figuring & Testing Nice Lap & Case Fran's lap travels in a very nice custom made case, as does his mirror also.	2006-2007 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 2 held on 2006-Nov-11 Polishing, Figuring & Testing Dave Tests Dave moves his eye up to the knife edge while using his homemade double-pass null tester.	2006-2007 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 2 held on 2006-Nov-11 Polishing, Figuring & Testing Scott is Done! Scott proudly holds his excellent, completed mirror. The face is so well polished that you might think the markings on the back are really up front.

Miscellaneous Goings On

A few random shots of other things happening at Stellafane this day.

2006-2007 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 2 held on 2006-Nov-11 Miscellaneous Goings On Firewood for the Winter John delivers some firewood with the tractor, Jeff begins to stack it.

2006-2007 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 2 held on 2006-Nov-11 Miscellaneous Goings On Jeff & Randall Jeff looks over a lens design book that Randall was reading.

2006-2007 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 2 held on 2006-Nov-11 Miscellaneous Goings On Dave & Ken Dave and Ken chat in the kitchen, while Jay melts pitch in the background.

The End

With three photographers and lots going on, this 45 photo album is the biggest we have ever published. Hope you enjoyed our photo journal for the day.