Recent content by Lerch

Hi Nate, Perhaps a simplification of my current problem is in order. Below is a link to an image showing two situations for the tool(brown) and mirror(blue) In the top situation, the normal force for friction between the two items should be uniform for each point measured. In the...

Its me again :) I actually made great progress the last few days, thank you for your help! I actually have something that works, but now I have a new problem :0 The simulation runs true with measured results until parts of the tool hang off the mirror. The simulator says to the tool will...

INDEED, very helpfull! I'll need to chew on this info for a bit, vectors are still a new concept to me. Back in a bit, hopefully with more progress and questions :) BTW, I appreciate your patience! James

Well, your post helps, but I run into two educational problems A) I'm working on replying in Latex images (forgive errors as I learn) B) I don't 'get' vectors yet... I kind of get vectors, but not entirely, For instance If I see \vec{a}-\vec{b}=\vec{c} and \vec{a}=(1,2)...

Ok, here's the bit that I get lost on: (step D,below) For every point (X,Y) on the surface of the tool (small disk) in contact with the mirror (large disk). The torque at any point (X,Y) on the tool is the product of: A) The radius in mm for this point(X,Y) of the tool B) sin...

Hello NateTG, While I'm doing "ok" with the angular acceleration and velocity problems, I don't know how to solve for the torque on each element representing tool (when both the tool and mirror are rotating.) I'm pretty sure I've got the method for solving torque on each element...

Greetings All, I am attempting to develop a software simulation of the dynamics involved in machine figuring concave parabolic telescope mirrors. As a member of the amateur telescope making community, we currently don't have any tools to do this other than the "trial and error" method...