Lockwood Custom Optics

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

• Newtonian primary mirrors - up to 60" diameter, focal ratios of F/2 and up
• Optics made from lightweight cast cellular blanks (I do not make the blanks)
• Custom-made Cassegrain optical systems
  
• High-quality, large elliptical diagonal mirrors and round flats
• Closely matched primary optics for binocular reflecting telescopes
• Testing and refiguring of flats and assembled Cassegrain systems/telescopes, and

As for customer service, I specialize in:

• Honesty, integrity, and quality
• 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
  

Other important notes

Large mirrors - I can currently provide mirrors up to ~42" in diameter from high-quality, precision annealed, monolithic borosilicate glass up to 2.5" in thickness.   This is very good glass, and it is available with little wait.  I will help to make your large-aperture telescope a reality and success.

I can also provide some testing and validation results for the edge support of a mirror cell, a useful and often vital testing step that many telescope builders have never even considered, and which is very important for large, thin mirrors.

Experience and typical work:  I have considerable experience in working thin mirrors, cast cellular mirrors, and sub-F/4 optics, and combinations thereof.  I make custom focal ratios and can supply a specific focal length to close tolerance if required.

I prefer to make new monolithic mirrors that are 14.5" or larger.  For 8" - 12" optics, I highly recommend Carl Zambuto. 

I refigure mirrors and work cast cellular blanks and flats in just about any size, though.

I make custom optics, so I generally don't have finished mirrors in stock, 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, and see if that gives you some project ideas.

Much 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 in most sizes at F/3.7 and F/3.3 mirrors I give priority to Starmaster.  I choose to do this in order to ensure that I can supply Starmaster with these optics in a reasonable time.  One happy client is better than three who are mad because I'm taking too long to deliver.  However, if time permits I can make a limited number of mirrors like these for individuals who are purchasing their own optics or building their own instruments.

Contact info:  If you have a project in mind that requires high-quality optics done right the first time, or a mirror that needs refiguring or testing, please email me at:

PLEASE NOTE - EMAIL (in general) DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK!  Technology has made communication easier, but certain email addresses are blocked by certain filters, messages sometimes simply disappear, and that is not your or my fault.

So, If you've tried to contact me and haven't heard back, there is a significant chance that the email got eaten by the internet or a spam filter.  Trust me - I may be busy, but I am NOT ignoring you.

If you don't get my reply within a week, please join my Yahoo group and post a message there.  If you can see the message, then so can I, and I can respond.

For shipments/payments, my shipping and mailing address is: