My Zeiss grinding and polishing machine

The movie shows the Zeiss machine in all its phases, putting together notes, drawings and films that make up the story: from initial idea to the project, manufacturing of machine parts to the assembly, and again from the first test until the first job of a primary mirror of 400mm telescope.
The Zeiss machine is this: any optical reflection or refraction derived from conical shape (flat, sphere, ellipse, parabola, hyperbola) can be obtained from his work, although in the final stages, the human hand remains irreplaceable.
The project started some years ago, I have enriched experience and many aspects
the processing of optical drive is yet to be discovered, but already
satisfied with the results thus far obtained.
A forthcoming movie come alive in the processing, touching many aspects
optical processing in the variety of movements and speed.
Good vision.
Riccardo Spada
------------------------
Il filmato mostra la macchina Zeiss in tutte le sue fasi, mettendo insieme appunti, disegni e filmati che costruiscono la storia: dalla prima idea al progetto, dalla lavorazione dei pezzi meccanici al suo montaggio, ed ancora dal primo collaudo fino alla prima lavorazione di uno specchio primario da 400mm per telescopi.
La macchina Zeiss serve a questo: qualsiasi ottica, a riflessione o a rifrazione con forma derivata da coniche ( piana, sfera, ellisse, parabola, iperbole) può essere ottenuta dalla sua lavorazione, anche se nelle fasi finali, la mano delluomo resta ancora insostituibile.
Il progetto partito qualche anno fa, mi ha arricchito di esperienza e molti aspetti
sulla lavorazione delle ottiche a macchina sono ancora da scoprire, ma sono già
soddisfatto dei risultati sin qui ottenuti.
Un prossimo filmato entrerà nel vivo della lavorazione, toccando gli innumerevoli aspetti
della lavorazione ottica nella varietà dei movimenti e velocità.
Buona visione.
Riccardo Spada

[@kevinmahaney3650]

Beautiful job on that!

[@JTECoyote]

Wow! If what you do for a living, Richard, is done with the same passion and exactitude as the video presentation you've produced, as well as your fabulous grinding machine... you are a gifted man indeed. After watching the video a dozen times, I have pretty much back engineered your work, making the bearing alteration to the main axle in my notes... as I see here in the comments, you did also. The heavy stone/concrete spindle housing is a stroke of genius harkening back to Russel Porter... Thank you so very much... --JT

[@hervemorel7363]

My machine is a Draper with double excentrique. Diamètre 700mm, it is 100 years old. I am in the process of renovating it. Thank you for your video.👍

[@danielricardoaugustowood5840]

A great project, superbly done. Congratulations.

[@salvocann1]

Complimenti ! è la più completa ed esplicativa presentazione di come realizzare una macchina utensile per la lavorazione di specchi per telescopi. Ed un ottimo stimolo all'autocostruzione.

[@Baitcasting73]

Very nice job. The best hommade machine I ever seen!Congratulation!

[@wiltorres]

Amazing project and work, congratulations.

[@ViolinVarnishItaly]

Grande Riccardo , complimenti !

[@analog_music_lover]

what a wonderful machine!!!

[@RICCARDOSPADA]

Thanks so much for the compliments. it is an honor for me to receive from someone from whom I can only learn. Mine is only a hobby, and remains, at least for now. Unfortunately, given the lack of availability of information on this topic, I had to experience, even practically, the various solutions that I would allow the construction of the machine. Thanks again, Riccardo

[@SmeeUncleJoe]

Great job. I just used a new wheel hub and bearing (try to not get one with a spline gear as they are a real chore to cut splines on a lathe for the driving spindle). I also bought a 20 inch, round marble slab which was part of a patio umbrella base. Siliconed that on top of the wheel hub and, with a variac (autotransformer) rectifier and DC motor from a treadmill, I was off to the races. Haven't done a top arm yet though. I need the arm exercise. About $100 USD in parts if bought used.

[@rodrigolindemberga]

parabéns! ficou top.

[@EnsonLeo84815]

Fantastic passion. Like!

[@hackingcoffeemindart]

That's a incredible workshop, machine, and Skills.... Thank you so much sharing this.

[@eskerilk]

Great job

[@zcommandante]

Вторую точку опоры можно сделать так же эксцентрик и можно будет выводить за центр качания

[@RICCARDOSPADA]

@egeotomasyon I've no experience in CNC machine but I can say that you don't need this kind of machine to work paraboloid mirrors, a Zeiss machine or Mirror-o-matic one is enough for ATM using normal diameters.....

[@geological76]

great job!...i want to ask you if the second disk (arm) can rotates for "" inertia"" or i may motorize it? (I do not want to put the drive belts...i want to make a very small project for home with a washing machine motor)..thanks a lot....excuse my english :) EDIT: AHHHH Ma sei Italiano non avevo notato :)

[@egeotomasyon]

Thanks for your sharing. Do you have any experience Paraboloid Mirror grinding in CNC machine? What can you say CNC grinding and polishing?

[@piyushkr1991]

what is the name of the track/music being played in the background?

[@RICCARDOSPADA]

First of all sorry for answering late and thanks for the appreciation to my video. It is not necessary to publish the draft of the Zeiss machine, because you simply understand, the operation. The starting point of the whole system can be understood by drawing on a black background you see the minute 0:17. About the thrust bearing, was recovered from an old crane.

[@GregorShapiro]

Dark grey on black gives very little detail.

[@scaletownmodels]

That's a beautiful machine and it shows the love put into it. Obviously a lot of time has passed since it's been finished, how has it worked out? I was thinking that with the 2 VFD controllers that you must get a quite precise, repeating pattern to the motions as shown by the test runs. Might it make a little difference if the VFD's were run by program that varied their frequency by a percent or two randomly around the set point to break up any harmonics that might develop?

[@RICCARDOSPADA]

Thanks for the compliment, I'm sorry if I'm not often at the computer, but I have very little time available. I can say that for the 2 variators the frequency values are not restrictive, you can go down or rise from the set value without substantial differences even of 5-10 Hz. Everything depends, to avoid the stall, from the assembled mechanical ratio. a few months ago I completed the processing of a 750 mm f / D = 3 mirror with excellent results. I should soon publish the video of the processing and optical checks. Currently I am committed to the realization of the frame. Hi Riccardo

[@dikhed1639]

Are there plans available for this/

[@FrancisOReillyTelescopemaker]

Riccardo, I am impressed with your craftsmanship. How did the 400mm mirror turn out?

[@MandyChen2015changsha]

We offers a wide array of cerium powder for all applications. We can also offer custom blends on any of our current line of powder to meet any of our customers needs.

[@masoodahmed5821]

Nice

[@guifercon]

Very nice, what about the mirrors? And telescopes? please update, I'm subscribing

[@RICCARDOSPADA]

@attila8685 Thank you. I realized it according on its basics scheme. Little information exists on this machine, everyone must make his own experience. I hope to publish my experience in the future to fill this gap. Are you an ATM too? Richard

[@user-oj5fs5he2u]

Hello, I would like to know, you managed to track the relationship between engine speeds and the eccentricity of the mirror. I mean, if I need to get a parabolic aspherical, I can do it by changing the speed of the engines. здравствуйте, хотел бы узнать, вам удалось отследить зависимость между скоростями двигателей и эксцентриситетом зеркала. Я имею ввиду если мне необходимо получить параболическую асферику, я смогу ее сделать изменяя скоростя двигателей.

[@naturalyshocked]

hi, i'm from Spain. how much € would you ask for a 16 / 20 inch mirror? kind regards

[@geological76]

volendo fare un macchinario estremamente semplificato rispetto a questo,volevo gentilmente chiedere se è possibile attuarlo con un solo motore(trasmettendo il movimento) oppure se usare un motorino a parte anche per l'altro disco,vista la potenza di un semplice motore da 70/80 euro....grazie per chi mi può rispondere

[@RICCARDOSPADA]

Ciao Ugo, scusa se rispondo con ritardo ma vengo di rado al computer per impegni e mancanza di tempo. Puoi realizzare senz'altro una macchina più semplice, è chiaro che con un solo motore ti limiti le possibilità, devi attuare la rotazione del tavolo e l'eccentrico principale rispettivamente circa 10 giri il tavolo e 15-20 l'eccentrico. A sua volta l'eccentrico principale col secondario deve essere in rapporto 1:2 e sincronizzato. E' chiaro però che realizzare la macchina con un solo motore per tutto, ti riduce la possibilità di combinazioni di velocità indipendenti e variabili. Qualche mese fa ho completato con questa macchina, con ottimi risultati, la lavorazione di uno specchio da 750 mm f/D= 3 dovrei pubblicare spero presto il video della lavorazione e dei controlli ottici. Attualmente sono impegnato alla realizzazione della montatura. Ciao Riccardo

[@MegalithicMentality]

what did the accuracy of your machine achive? i assume greater than .001 throughout

[@RICCARDOSPADA]

Hi, Mike, I'm sorry to answer you late, I'm not often at the computer, but I have very little time available. The most important thing of the Zeiss machine made by me is the tourntable, it is rectified and has a precision on the rotation typical of a parallel lathe. However, for the processing of optical mirrors, which require tolerances of a few nanometers, minimum 62nm, the same precision is not required on the machine and is only achieved with an average of thousands of strokes. the precision of 0.001 (1 micron) reaches it a machine for mechanical rectification, but it is a very distant and impossible value for the precision required by the mirrors for telescopes, for the mirror, only the last correction is given to the human hand. A few months ago I completed the working of a 750 mm f / D = 3 mirror with excellent results. I should soon publish the video of the mirror working and optical tests. I am currently working on the construction of the telescope mount. Hi, Riccardo

[@RICCARDOSPADA]

@naturalyshocked Hello. Unfortunately it is not considered the idea of working for third parties, at least for now, because of the limited time available, it is not my profession but a hobby, I'm sorry. Right now I ‘m working my mirror 75 cm for a project that will engage me for some years in building a telescope. Richard

[@Aranyik]

very nice work, is the lapping plate attached to a wood or metal backing plate? I saw many of your wheels are wood, I'm also thinking to switch to a wood backing plate. Any tips?

[@RICCARDOSPADA]

Hi Aranyk, Thanks for your compliments, the disc of the tool as you say is wooden (plywood from 22 mm) that has attacked the common glass disc for grinding. Equal support for the polishing tool, where instead of glass is the pitch. Actually in amateur productions, the plywood is best because suitable and easy to work. My machine Zeiss how could you see is made with it. Hello, Riccardo

[@Aranyik]

Thanks Ricardo, may I ask what sort of bearings you use on the shaft? I'm getting some up and down movement on the disk, and think it is coming from low quality bearings.

[@RICCARDOSPADA]

Aranyik The main shaft with a diameter of 75 mm has two RIV-SKF tapered roller bearings, one under the rectified steel disk and another at the end. the two eccentric disks have self-centring bearings with cast iron base at four-hole. Unfortunately the great main thrust bearing 350 mm well, (I am responding to JustWonderingHowToDo, although with considerable delay) after the test I had to remove Why had the rough edges giving problems, replacing it with normal rolling bearings mounted in vertical ponds under the main drive to the suburbs, they play perfectly their stability function, remember that the thrust bearing has been recovered from an old craneand new for that diameter would have cost more than 2000 €. It is important that the root disk is the stiffest possible and rectified above and below, and the shaft perfectly vertical to it If you've made from plywood, you should assemble in the main shaft tapered roller bearings, and 120° vertical wheels with rubber rings and rectify the top making it turn. Hello Riccardo

[@Aranyik]

Thanks Ricardo, that helps alot! That will keep me busy for a while.

[@bocchy1977]

bella, molto bella, bellissima, complimenti sign. Riccardo. mi piacerebbe avere una anche io se avessi il progetto e tutte quasi tutte informazioni. se non ti serve piu, potrrei darti una offerta generosa. cosi potrei studiarla (opera d"arte) grazie per la mostra

[@vuldarak]

блестящще!

[@analog_music_lover]

Also I love the back ground music

[@kobudoka1165]

but NO ONE show how to make grinding wheel ... it is flat? part of circle?? or part of parabola???

[@Baitcasting73]

@RICCARDOSPADA Yes I do! I have made earlier a lot of mirrors. Now I am interested in evaporation. I have two grinding machines, and two coating machines. The biggest has 50cm chamber. Check my videos. Attila

[@user-oj5fs5he2u]

I just do optics, and your car has a very interesting idea, I'd like to try to optimize it better and make it better. However, I ran into a problem: I do not know what will happen with this or that drawing .... to a sphere or a parabola. Variants of strokes (drawings) can be more than 1000, and each gives a different shape of the mirror. Please, answer, .

[@MarcoPaccapelo]

Ciao, bellissima macchina!! Quanto costerebbe fare uno specchio con la tua macchina, anche solo la lavorazione del vetro (diciamo un 400 mm giusto per avere un'idea), dato ho scoperto solo ieri la possibilità di autocostruire questi elementi e dato che mi stavo trasferendo in Albania dove ho la possibilità di trovare luoghi completamente buii così mi è ritornata la voglia di un telescopio. Grazie!!

[@dantyler1558]

How do you involve the microscope company of Zeiss into your garage project?

[@MrQuijibo]

It's a Zeiss type, no-one said it was built by Zeiss.

[@dantyler6907]

MrQuijibo Please, tell me more. Explain "Zeiss-type".

[@dantyler6907]

No data for "Zeiss-type"? No worries... I am safe in assumung you are the only person in the world creating "Zeiss-type" junk.

[@MrQuijibo]

Dan Tyler I'm not your mum, 5 minutes with Google will answer your questions.

[@dantyler6907]

MrQuijibo Your not my "mum"?