HI RICK,
THE TERM DIELECTRIC HAS NO REFERENCE TO ANY
ELECTRICAL PROPERTY. IN THIS CASE IT'S SIMPLY
A NON-ABSORBING MATERIAL. ZAMBUTO'S COATER USES
AN E-BEAM AS I DO. TO DENSIFY THE COAT AN ION-
ASSISTED-DEPOSITION SYSTEM IS USED. ANY SINGLE
COAT MAY HAVE SOME VARIANCES. AFTER SEVERAL DOZEN
COATS ARE APPLIED SOME PEOPLE ARE LED TO BELIEVE
THAT THE FIGURE OF A MIRROR MAY BE COMPROMISED.
I RESPECT ZAMBUTO'S PREMISE. HE FEELS THAT THE
LOW PRICES THAT ARE CHARGED FOR MOST COATINGS
DOES'NT PERMIT SUFFICIENT CARE AND EFFORT. I
AGREE. THE EFFORT FOR ME TO COAT A 6 INCH AS
OPPOSED A 12 1/2 INCH IS ABOUT THE SAME. MY MACHINE IS NEVER TURNED OFF. YET THE PRICE FOR THE
6 INCH IS A FRACTION OF THE 12 1/2 INCH. OUR NEW
ENTERPRISE WILL CHARGE $50 FOR MIRRORS UP TO
12 1/2 INCH. I DO NOT TRUST AUTOMATION TO HANDLE
A LARGE NUMBER OF LAYERS. WHEN I DO A COMPLEX
FILTER I STILL MONITOR EVERY LAYER DEPOSITED.
I USE A SINGLE POCKET E-GUN WITH A MANIPULATING
ARM WHICH PERMITS TO USE LARGER CRUCIBLES AND GIVE
ME AN ABILITY TO INSURE THAT THE MATERIALS TO BE
DEPOSITED ARE UNIFOMLY POSITIONED IN THE CRUCIBLE.
AL