Quote:
Originally Posted by Outcast
LOL... don't encourage him...  |
Why not? Alex, here is an idea that i have had for many years, build a large primary mirror out of ordinary hexagonal mirror tiles. Hexagonal shapes suit curved surfaces. You only need to construct a parabolic subframe, which could be laid up with thin strips of plywood laided up diagonally with epoxy adhesive. Another option would be to shape the parabola surface out of surfboard foam glued to a plywood subframe. There are plenty of sources for hexagonal mirror tiles, like this one:
https://www.amazon.com.au/Hexagonal-.../dp/B07DF5W7L6
Mosaic sheets are easy to layup, and individual tiles are easy to replace.
The James Webb Space Telescope uses mirror tiles. Sure these Amazon ones are not likely to be 1/12 wave surfaces, but does it really matter when you have such a large composite mirror surface reflecting onto a secondary location.
Imaging a 2 metre diametre primary made this way.
