Lockwood Custom Optics

Custom telescope mirrors, 16"- 52" in aperture, F/2 and up
Newtonian, classical Cassegrain, and Ritchey-Chretién systems
Refiguring for systems 6"- 52" in aperture
Custom flat mirrors - elliptical or round, and flat testing

Welcome to the Lockwood Custom Optics web site. My name is Michael Lockwood, and I started LCO in 2006 to supply quality optics to amateur and professional astronomers and telescope builders.

Recently I moved to a new, larger shop with more production capability. I chose to do this to reduce my lead time and increase my production capability, while maintaining the same high standards.

I specialize in high quality custom optics (rather than doing large production runs of one type of mirror) because I believe in giving each optic individual attention in figuring and testing to make it the best it can possibly be.

If I can measure significant error in a mirror, it is simply not good enough, and must be worked further. This is the philosophy I follow for every optic that passes through my shop.

I am a source for difficult to find, high-quality optics and services such as:

Large Newtonian primary mirrors (16"-52" diameter, focal ratios of F/2 and up)

Custom-made Cassegrain optical systems

Large elliptical diagonal mirrors and round flats

Closely matched primary optics for binocular reflecting telescopes, and

Testing and refiguring of flats and assembled Cassegrain systems/telescopes

As for customer service, I specialize in:

Communicating with my clients, whether problems arise or not

Keeping clients updated on project progress

Delivering products in a timely manner

Flexibility in scheduling and custom services, and
Providing clients with information on how to best use my products

I can provide mirrors up to approximately 42" in diameter from monolithic borosilicate (Pyrex or Pyrex-equivalent) glass from 2" to 2.5" in thickness. Blanks are available to me now, with little delay. I specialize in high-quality, fast, large and thin optics, and I will help to make your large-aperture telescope a reality and success. I can also provide some testing results for mirrors in their cells.

I have considerable experience in working thin mirrors, cast cellular mirrors, and sub-F/4 optics, and combinations thereof.

If you're looking for the lowest price on a telescope mirror, or for a standard Newtonian primary mirror under 12" in aperture, please look elsewhere.

I make custom optics, so I generally don't have finished mirrors in stock (althought I hope to in the future), and my prices are generally (but not always) higher than those that do. However, I usually have some generated mirror blanks that are ready for work. For a list of any items that I may have in stock, please click here.

The bulk of my work is for the clients listed in the table on the first web page, and I thank them for choosing to work with me based on the quality of my work, adaptability to meet their needs, timely delivery, and dependability.

Please note that most sizes in F/3.7 and F/3.3 mirrors are exclusive to Starmaster, and are not available for sale to other vendors at this time. I choose to do this in order to ensure that I can supply Starmaster with these optics in a reasonable time. However, if time permits I can make a limited number of mirrors like these for individuals who are building their own instruments. Also, I make custom focal ratios and can supply a specific focal length to close tolerance if required.

If you need an optics or have a project in mind that requires high-quality optics done right the first time, please email me at:

parabola30 (at) yahoo (dot) com

Payments and requests for quotes may be sent to:

Michael Lockwood
Lockwood Custom Optics
648 CR 1700E
Philo, IL 61864 USA

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