Now to build one.
How to build parabolic mirror. I remember that i got really amazed with a device exhibited in the museum it was a device that created a great optical illu. Diy holographic parabolic mirrors the mirascope. How to build a strike heliostat strike parabolic reflector. When i saw the call for the untochable challenge it immediately reminded me about a visit to a museum when i was a kid.
It s a fair amount of work but the resulting energy the mirror produces is amazing. A parabolic mirror has one optical trick that makes it so fun and useful. This trash can lid will cook in a 4 cast iron skillet. Making your own mirror allows you to get the exact curvature you need for whatever you might be burning cooking or heating.
He replaced the traditional curved mirror with a series of thin strips of mirror making what appears to be a fresnel reflector it s a pretty simple concept but has a bunch of. It is easy to build from materials available at the hardware store. Prove it to yourself. This was a quick project i just wanted to try out to see if it would work.
That s where dominic wanjihias flat parabolic mirror comes into play. To control the shape of your mirror you will have to use or build your own tools. The vast majority of light that hits the mirror is focused on a single point. A tool commonly used is the foucault tester also known as knife edge test.
So here s the math. You can make a parabolic mirror from an old satellite tv dish or a bathroom vanity mirror but that s not fun. Download this template and print it on cardstock add something shiny cut it out and tape the edges together don t. Regular parabolic mirrors are great for concentrating sunlight for solar heating however they are bulky and can be difficult to repair.