Novel kinematic equatorial primary mirror mount

Robert E. Parks; R. Kent Honeycutt

doi:10.1117/12.319298

25 August 1998 Novel kinematic equatorial primary mirror mount

Robert E. Parks, R. Kent Honeycutt

Proceedings Volume 3352, Advanced Technology Optical/IR Telescopes VI; (1998) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.319298
Event: Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation, 1998, Kona, HI, United States

Abstract

Although there is great interest in mounts for very large telescopes, there are still many new telescopes in the I to 3 m range that require careftilly engineered mounts to achieve diffraction limited performance. In addition, the very large telescopes have associated large instruments with optics in the I to 2 mrange that need careful mounting. This paper addresses mounting schemes for optics in this size range. .. Becauseall materials are so relatively flimsy ifthey are expected to hold their shape to a few nanometers, all but the smallest optics must have mounts that are well conceived. This means the design must be based on the kinematic principle of not over-constraining the optic. Even the modestly large optics ofprojects like the National Ignition Facility (NIF) can benefit from following kinematic principles. The problem is exacerbated in most telescopes because they operate over such a large temperature range and cost prohibits using structural materials that closely match the coefficients of expansion of most mirror substrate materials. Given that there is the need to mount moderately large optics and that the mounting must be well designed, there should be an approach to the problem that does not require zero based engineering for every new mount. The approach should also use commercially available components wherever possible and be lightweight. All these aspects ofthis approach to mount design should be useful in reducing costs. By utilizing a systematic approach to kinematic mount design that is built around readily available components, we show there is a rather universal solution to mounting mid-size mirrors. We outline such a design strategy and illustrate it using the new indiana University 1 .25 m telescope intended for unattended synoptic spectroscopy. The design is applied to both the primary and secondary mirrors, lightweight, gas-fusion bonded sandwich structures made by Hextek Corp.'

Citation Download Citation

Robert E. Parks and R. Kent Honeycutt "Novel kinematic equatorial primary mirror mount", Proc. SPIE 3352, Advanced Technology Optical/IR Telescopes VI, (25 August 1998); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.319298

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