Waite Research Mirrors For Telescopes

Name: Waite Research Mirrors For Telescopes
Address: 325 E Elliot Road Suite 25, Chandler, AZ, 85225, US
Telephone: +18006521547

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Waite Research Mirrors For Telescopes

Maker of Premium Telescope Optics and Dobsonian Telescopes Every mirror we produce is crafted with accuracy and brightness in mind.

Waite Research – Precision Optics for Astronomy, Industry & Science

At Waite Research, we design and fabricate premium optics for advanced applications. From custom telescope mirrors (6″ to 38.5″) to specialized short focal-length designs, our optics are built for performance. We proudly serve amateur astronomers, as well as industrial and scientific clients who rely on precision optics for their

instruments. With decades of experience and state-of-the-art fabrication techniques, Waite Research delivers optics that drive discovery, innovation, and exploration.

05/04/2026

🔭 Thinking about building your own telescope?
This is where it can take you.

A great telescope starts with a great mirror. We craft precision Newtonian mirrors for builders who want performance you won’t get from off-the-shelf optics—whether it’s your first build or your next serious upgrade.

We also have a small number of mirrors in inventory, ready to go.

If you’re planning a build, send us a message 👍

04/20/2026

There is nothing quite like the moment of truth when months of precision work finally come together!

We just reached a major milestone with a recent build: installing this massive 25" Waite Research mirror into its new home. Seeing that glass settle perfectly into the custom-built cell makes all the hours of grinding and polishing worth it.

The Process
As you can see in the video, it takes a steady hand (and a lot of focus!) to lower a mirror of this size. This telescope was designed specifically to handle the weight and precision requirements of such a large aperture, including integrated cooling fans to ensure the glass reaches ambient temperature quickly for the best possible views.

What’s Next?
The installation is only half the battle. Now comes the part we’ve all been waiting for: First Light. There is an incredible thrill in pointing a brand-new 25" instrument toward the heavens for the first time to verify the optical accuracy and see what this beast can really do.

04/12/2026

🔭 Before Generating: 14.75″ Quartz Telescope Mirror

Here’s a look at an unusual 14.75″ quartz mirror blank here in our shop. You’ll notice the surface looks rough and wavy — it's more wavy than usual, but it will generate out cleanly as we begin shaping the curve.

From here, it goes through generating, grinding, polishing, and final figuring to become a precision optical surface.

Quartz offers excellent thermal stability, meaning sharper views with less waiting for cooldown.

We’re considering finishing this as a ready-to-ship quartz mirror.
👉 Would anyone be interested in a 14.75″ quartz mirror once completed?

04/07/2026

🌌 Premium 16″ Telescope Mirror — Ready to Ship

We have a finished 16″ F/3.75 telescope mirror available from our shop in Arizona — expertly figured and tested to deliver the sharp, high-contrast views serious observers expect.

This mirror performs exactly as it should at the eyepiece, producing tight stars and excellent contrast across the field.

You may notice some faint cosmetic sleeks visible in certain lighting — these are purely superficial and do not affect optical performance in any way. We’re sharing this openly so you know exactly what you’re getting.

✨ The opportunity:
This mirror is available at a reduced price — a great chance to own premium optics without the usual wait time. At a price of $4,500 plus shipping, you will be saving $1,500 off the regular price for a premium 16″ F/3.75 mirror. And you have the big benefit of getting the mirror shipped out in one business day.

🔭 Perfect for:
Dobsonian builds
Deep-sky observers
Builders looking for performance over cosmetics

Diameter – 16"
Focal Ratio – F/3.75
Substrate – 1.5" Borosilicate
Precision Performance – FigureXP reports confirm exceptional quality.
Coating – High-reflectivity, enhanced aluminum

📍 Made in Arizona
📦 Coated and ready to ship

Call 800-652-1547 or email [email protected]

04/06/2026

The Heart of Your Next Scope. Premium 12" F5 Crafted by Waite Research on 1.0" Borosilicate.

Expertly Figured.

Verified Precision.

Skip the waitlist -- $2,750. SOLD!

CALL 800-652-1547 TO PLACE A CUSTOM ORDER!

03/30/2026

🛠️ Phase One: The "Generated" 16-Inch Curve 🔭
Before the grit starts flying and the slurry gets messy, every one of our large mirrors starts right here. This is a 16-inch glass blank immediately after it has come off our generating equipment at Waite Research.

📦For custom mirrors and mirrors in stock, visit waiteresearch.com.

🔍 What are you looking at?
Notice the matte, frosted appearance and the subtle circular patterns on the glass? That is the signature of diamond generation.

Instead of spending dozens of hours manually "hogging out" the center of a flat glass slab with loose grit, we use a high-speed machine with a diamond-bonded tool to mechanically carve the initial curve.

⚙️ Why Generate First?
Geometric Accuracy: The generator allows us to set the exact focal length (the "sagitta") with mathematical precision from the very first minute.

Structural Integrity: By mechanically generating the curve, we ensure the glass removal is perfectly centered and even across the entire 16-inch diameter.

Efficiency: It saves days of back-breaking manual labor, allowing us to spend more time on the "fine art" of polishing and figuring.

🔜 What’s Next?
While it looks like a "bowl" already, the surface is actually quite rough at a microscopic level. The next step is the rough grinding phase (like the video we posted earlier!), where we’ll use silicon carbide to "smooth out" these machining marks and prepare the glass for its journey to a molecularly smooth finish.

It’s the start of a long journey, but getting the geometry right at this stage is the secret to a world-class view later! 🌌

03/25/2026

Sound on for the full shop experience! 🔊
🏗️ Precision from the Start: Rough Grinding a 16" Mirror 🔭
The journey from a flat slab of glass to a world-class optical instrument is all about controlled removal. Before this 16-inch blank ever hit the grinding machine you see in the video, we used our curve generating equipment to do the heavy lifting.

⚡ The Pre-Work: Generating
Think of "generating" as the fast-forward button of telescope making. Instead of spending days "hogging out" the glass by hand, we use specialized machinery with diamond-tipped tools to carve out the initial curve. This ensures the geometry is mathematically spot-on before we even open a bucket of grit.

🌪️ The Current Phase: Rough Grinding
What you’re seeing now is the rough grinding stage. Now that the curve has been generated, the machine takes over to:

Refine the Surface: The generator leaves a specific texture behind. We use a coarse silicon carbide slurry (that grey mixture) to grind down the surface and prep it for finer grits.

Distribute Pressure: We’ve loaded the tool with heavy weights to ensure the abrasive "bites" into the glass consistently across the entire 16-inch surface.

Set the Foundation: This stage is critical. A perfectly uniform spherical curve here makes the final polishing and "figuring" much smoother later on.

It’s loud, messy, and incredibly satisfying to watch a massive piece of glass take shape!

Are you a "push-glass-by-hand" purist, or do you appreciate the precision of automated generating and grinding? Let us know in the comments! 👇

03/05/2026

Generating the curve on a telescope mirror blank is just the first step. Then comes grinding, fine grinding, measurement, polishing.

02/22/2026

🔭 The Science of the Shine: Polishing at Waite Research

Ever wonder how a piece of glass becomes a window to the universe? Check out this 12" F/5 mirror on the machine here at Waite Research in Arizona! 🌵

What you’re seeing is a critical stage in the mirror-making process: Fine Polishing. Here’s the breakdown of what's happening on the deck:

🧠 Why the "Pitch" Matters
The dark layer you see on the bottom of the aluminum tool is optical pitch. Unlike hard materials, pitch is a "viscoelastic" fluid. It flows ever so slowly under pressure, allowing it to conform perfectly to the curve of the glass. This ensures that the polishing agent (the grey slurry) makes contact across the entire surface to create a molecularly smooth finish.

🤖 Man vs. Machine
While the "old school" way involves hours of manual labor, our automated polishing machine provides:

Consistency: Perfectly designed strokes that prevent "zonal errors."

Precision: Controlled pressure and rotation speeds tailored for an F/5 focal ratio.

Patience: The machine never gets tired, which is essential when we are aiming for accuracies measured in nanometers!

📐 The Goal
By the time this 12-inch beauty was done, it wasn't just "shiny"—it was a mathematically precise parabola, ready to gather light from distant galaxies and bring them into crisp focus.

🛒 Interested in owning this piece of glass?

This 12" F/5 mirror is officially finished, tested, and ready for its new home.

Whether you are building a high-end Dobsonian or upgrading your current rig, this mirror is ready to deliver crisp, high-contrast views of the deep sky.

DM or email us for pricing and shipping details, or drop a comment below if you want more technical specs! 👇

02/15/2026

The heart of a world-class telescope is its glass. 🔭 This 12 inch F5 "Clavius-C" mirror has been hand-crafted by Waite Research and is ready for its new home.

Every curve is verified through rigorous Foucault and Ronchi testing to ensure pinpoint stars and breathtaking contrast. Don't settle for mass-produced optics when you can have a masterpiece.

Thickness: 1"
Weight: 8 lbs
Substrate: Borosilicate
Optical Quality: Exceptional P-V and Strehl
Coating: High-reflectivity protected aluminum
Series Name: Clavius

For price and order details, visit https://www.waiteresearch.com/index.php/12f5-ready-your-new-build/

📞 Call Waite Research now to claim this 12" F/5! 800-652-1547

Address

325 E Elliot Road Suite 25
Chandler, AZ
85225

Telephone

+18006521547

Website

http://waiteresearch.com/

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