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Lockwood Custom Optics

Started by Mike Lockwood , Jan 11 2011 07:13 PM
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309 replies to this topic

#26 Mike Lockwood

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Posted 03 January 2013 - 02:38 PM

I had some time on one of my small machines, so I pulled a blank out of my glass pile and now have one finished 10" f/5.8 mirror ready for coating.

This is a 1.7"-thick mirror, from Pyrex. The figure more than meets my standards for correction, polish, and figure of revolution. It has scribed center spots to aid with precise centering of a ring, triangle, etc.

Price is $1,200 including enhanced aluminum coating and shipping within the US.

Please send me an email (mirrors at loptics dot com) if you are interested or have questions.

#27 Mike Lockwood

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Posted 12 January 2013 - 09:24 PM

The 18" f/3.7 Starmaster telescope is now sale pending, but the 10" f/5.8 mirror is still available immediately.
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#28 Mike Lockwood

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Posted 07 July 2013 - 03:33 PM

Some time ago I posted an article on my web page about my recent trip to the New Mexico Astronomy Village, but I forgot to post it here.

So, here's the link: NMAV Article

#29 okieav8r

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Posted 07 July 2013 - 04:40 PM

Great story and photos, Mike. Looks like you had a great time. Tom Clark is certainly in an enviable situation.

#30 David Pavlich

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Posted 07 July 2013 - 09:26 PM

That's good stuff, Mike! Talk about dark sky envy... :ubetcha:

David
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#31 Chucky

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Posted 08 July 2013 - 06:33 AM

Simply incredible and a most awesome read. Great pictures too!

#32 Mike Lockwood

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Posted 11 July 2013 - 04:36 PM

Thanks for the positive feedback everyone.

Here's one more link I forgot to post - my projects page that shows some of the highlights of the projects I've worked on: LCO Projects Page

#33 David Pavlich

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Posted 12 July 2013 - 09:36 PM

That's good stuff, Mike!!

David

#34 Mike Lockwood

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Posted 03 September 2013 - 07:19 PM

I've posted an article about a trip that I took to the Three Rivers Foundation Astronomy Campus in northwest Texas. You can read it here: Three Rivers Foundation Astronomy Campus

Hope you enjoy it, it's is great facility.

#35 Mike Lockwood

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Posted 08 January 2014 - 11:18 PM

I've posted an article, written by a friend, about the Rocky Mountain Star Stare. You can read it here: 20" f/3 at RMSS

#36 nirvanix

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Posted 09 January 2014 - 03:06 PM

That is my dream scope right there. 20 inches and seated - Lord Rosse would wet himself.

#37 Mike Lockwood

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Posted 17 January 2014 - 01:20 PM

Every now and then I have an opening on a machine, so I fill it with a blank that I have in stock. I have an extra 22" f/3.3 mirror coming into figuring now, and it will go in a 22" f/3.3 Starmaster Super FX telescope. This telescope should be available in ~90 days, which is significantly shorter than the normal lead time.

Contact Rick Singmaster at (620) 638-4743 if you're interested in the telescope. I don't recommend waiting, these usually sell fairly quickly.

The 22" f/3.3 is, for most, a one-step telescope - that is, you only need about one step to observe at zenith, and an observing chair for much of the rest of the sky! Some more information is available here:
http://www.starmaste...perFXscopes.htm
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Lockwood Custom Optics

#38 Mike Lockwood

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Posted 06 February 2014 - 10:36 PM

That is my dream scope right there. 20 inches and seated - Lord Rosse would wet himself.

Yes, I enjoy it very much, and John Pratte of JPAstrofast.com has built a 20" f/3 for a client, too. (Never considered the possibility of an incontinent Lord Rosse.)

By the way, the 22" f/3.3 was sold about a week ago.

#39 Bob S.

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Posted 07 February 2014 - 12:23 AM

It sort of Depends??? They work better than an OIII filter from Lord Rosse's hand with my 20" f/3 Lockwood/JP Astrocraft. Here is a picture of the scope in development, with Johh, Bob (owner), Bob, and Mike Lockwood in John Pratte's shop in Illinois. It IS my dream scope as well. Works like a charm and you can sit all you want to see whatever you want.

Attached Thumbnails

  • 6361046-John, Bob, Bob, Mike (550x367).jpg

#40 Mike Lockwood

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Posted 13 February 2014 - 03:48 PM

I have two 8" mirrors available immediately.

Mirror #1 is f/5.8, focal length = 46.5". It is a molded blank, ~1.3" thick Pyrex, with a good anneal. The back has not been ground, but is fairly flat and smooth out of the mold, as is the edge.

Mirror #2 is f/5.9, focal length at 47". It is also 1.3" thick, with good anneal. The back is fairly smooth and flat, but there is a raised rim around the edge about 1/8" inch high and 1/4" wide. (In most cells this will not interfere with anything.) The edge of the mirror tapers - the mirror is slightly wider at the front than the back. With proper edge support, this is not an issue.

I have good 1.5" m.a. flats for both of them. I am selling a primary and a secondary as a set, each set for $1,000 including OMI coating and shipping.

Both have precisely centered center spots that are scribed into the glass itself and are permanent. This makes adding an adhesive spot or centering a laser beam on the mirror quite simple.

Email me at the address on my company info page if you are interested. I check Yahoo email and CN PMs occasionally too, but prefer email.

These are first come, first serve, and I don't plan to make any more of this size for a while. They are boxed and ready to ship.

#41 Mike Lockwood

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Posted 25 June 2014 - 09:15 PM

I've just posted my article about the Winter Star Party 2014.

You can find it here: WSP 2014

I hope you enjoy reading it - it has a lot of photos in it.

Just FYI, the two 8" mirrors are still available, as is a 12.5" mirror. See my In Stock Page.

#42 Alan French

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Posted 26 June 2014 - 07:47 AM

Nice article, Mike. Let's hope we all make it back to WSP, but have less incentive to get out of the northern seats this coming winter!

Clear skies, Alan

#43 havasman

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Posted 08 July 2014 - 12:47 PM

Your collimation technique so much improved the performance of even my *BLEEP* little scope that I had to thank you: thanks VERY much for explaining the method to us so well. Now i have my eye fixed firmly on one of those Sweet Sixteens...
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#44 mdowns

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Posted 08 July 2014 - 06:17 PM

What a great read Mike,really fun and informative. Enjoyed all of those pics as well.Would have been nice reading it in S&T or Astronomy.Your comments about the cold compared to what we enjoy down here reminds me all over again why I left Indiana and moved to southern Florida.All things being equal,beer is good by a fireplace but so much better by the palms as the dolphins swim by :-)

#45 GJJim

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Posted 08 July 2014 - 08:46 PM

You have a knack for travelogues -- and photography. Thanks for the excellent article!

#46 rockethead26

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Posted 09 July 2014 - 07:01 PM

Great report and images, Mike. A very enjoyable read.

#47 Mike Lockwood

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Posted 29 September 2014 - 11:55 AM

I've posted a new article on my web site about my trip to Texas and the New Mexico Astronomy Village earlier this summer:
  http://www.loptics.c.../3RFNM2014.html

 

It covers some observing in Texas and some work on Tom Clark's 42" mirror cell.

 

I hope you enjoy it.  I just returned from the Okie-Tex Star Party and will write up a short article about it when I have a chance.

 

I have also updated my Projects Page with some recently completed telescopes:

  http://www.loptics.c...s/projects.html

 

Finally, I recently sold one 8" primary, but I still have a few small mirrors in stock:

  http://www.loptics.com/stock.html
 

If you are interested in things like this, feel free to join the Lockwood Optics Yahoo Group.


#48 Herr Ointment

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Posted 29 September 2014 - 06:19 PM

My turn to praise your web site.

 

It's great!

 

Thanks!


#49 Mike Lockwood

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Posted 08 October 2014 - 03:31 PM

Thanks for the compliment.

 

I've posted a new installment of "In the Shop", with another soon to follow.

 

This one concerns a neighbor's light:
  http://www.loptics.c...hop/shop43.html

The next one will be some lunar eclipse images, after I get done processing them.
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#50 Mike Lockwood

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Posted 27 October 2014 - 12:22 PM

I have had the polishing machines running, so I've had some time to do a bit of writing.  I have a few new articles to mention here.

 

The first is about Okie-Tex 2014:
  http://www.loptics.c...kietex2014.html

 

The second is about mirror coatings:
  http://www.loptics.c...oatingrisk.html

 

The third is a few lunar eclipse photos:

  http://www.loptics.c...hop/shop44.html

 

The fourth is the 45th (!) installment of "In the Shop", and is about the dedication (FINALLY) for Bob Holmes 50" f/4 telescope:
  http://www.loptics.c...hop/shop45.html

 

Finally, I also posted a few solar eclipse photos:

  http://www.loptics.c...hop/shop46.html

 

I'll have some more updates before the end of the year.


Edited by Mike Lockwood, 27 October 2014 - 12:24 PM.

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