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Software Vault: The Gold Collection
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Software Vault - The Gold Collection (American Databankers) (1993).ISO
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optimax.zip
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READ.ME
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OPTIMAX
Version 3.2
The Newtonian Telescope Designer's
Program for Selecting and
Evaluating Optical Components
Such as Mirrors, Diagonals, and
Eyepieces
by
Max E. Klinger
May 25, 1992
Copyright (C) Max E. Klinger 1990, 1991, 1992
All Rights Reserved
OPTIMAX.EXE (ver. 3.2) is a compiled program intended to assist
amateur telescope makers and observers with the design and
evaluation of their telescopes. OPTIMAX is not a ray-tracing
program and is not intended for use in the design of optical
components such as mirrors and lenses. Rather, it is
intended to assist amateur astronomers in selecting and evaluating
optical components (mirrors and eyepieces) for a particular
Newtonian telescope. The program can also be used by owners of
all types of telescopes (refractors, catadioptircs) to evaluate
eyepiece performance, fields of view, exit pupils, and magnification
for particular telescope and eyepiece combinations.
For example, OPTIMAX can be used to determine the best F/ ratio for
a given user's viewing objectives, to size and locate the diagonal
mirror, and to select and evaluate eyepieces. It may also be used
to determine the eyepiece performance (maginification, field, exit
pupil and the like) for all types of telescopes (including
catadioptric and refracting types).
The program also includes extensive documentation and textual
discussion concerning the process of selecting the optical
components for a Newtonian telescope.
Author: Max E. Klinger
3142 Folsom St.
Boulder, CO 80304
FILES PROVIDED
The following files are to be found in the archive file
OPTIMAX.ZIP:
READ.ME This file
OPTIMAX.EXE The OPTIMAX program itself
OPTIMAX.HLP Help file used by the progam.
OPTIMAX.DOC Text file containing Help screens.
OPTIMAX.WKB Data file used by the program.
OPTIMAX.TXT Detailed text on selecting optical
components and use of the program.
If any of these files is missing, please contact the author at:
Max E. Klinger
3142 Folsom Street
Boulder, CO 80304
SAMPLE CALCULATIONS IN OPTIMAX.WKB
As supplied, OPTIMAX comes with data file called OPTIMAX.WKB
which contains sample entries and calculations for 10" F/5
Newtonian. The eyepiece chart shows the data for a cross-section
of eyepieces with a 10" F/5 telescope, while the Automatic Diagonal
Chart and the Manual Diagonal Chart both show calculations of the
optimal diagonal size for a 10" F/5, with an image size of 1.1"
(which is the image size required for a 32 mm., 50° plossl-type
eyepice, and for a diagonal-to-focal plane distance of 10".
To preserve this set of data for future reference, be sure to save
any new data entered under a new *.WKB file. Using the "/fg" command
("file-get") you can load different *.WKB files into OPTIMAX.
COPYRIGHT NOTICE AND LICENSE
OPTIMAX.EXE is distributed free of charge. It is not in the public
domain, and all rights associated with the program are reserved.
This program and its accompanying documentation are copyrighted
under the laws of the United States of America.
You are licensed to use this program as follows:
1. You may use OPTIMAX.EXE for any personal, non-
commercial purposes.
2. You may copy and distribute OPTIMAX.EXE for
any non-commercial purposes, provided that you do not
omit this documentation, or any of the other
files provided in the OPTIMAX.ZIP package.
Credit must be given to the author.
3. You may upload OPTIMAX.EXE to bulletin boards
provided you do not omit this documentation,
or any of the other files provided in the
OPTIMAX.EXE package. Credit must be given to
the author.
4. You may not alter the program in any way or
charge money for distributing it (other than
minor charges to cover the cost of media).
WARRANTY
This program and the accompanying documentation are provided
without any warranty, express or implied, including the
warranties of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR AN INTENDED PURPOSE.
The program and the documentation are supplied "AS IS."
The author will not accept responsibility or be held liable for any
loss or damages resulting from the use of the program, including any
incidental or consequental damages.
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
OPTIMAX.EXE is written for IBM-standard, MS-DOS computers. It
requires a minimum of 275 K Random Access Memory to load and
run. It will run with MS-DOS 3.1 or later.
The program can be run from a floppy-disk drive or from a
hard disk, although performance will be greatly enhanced
by running it on a hard drive.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Two files in the OPTIMAX package, OPTIMAX.DOC and OPTIMAX.TXT
contain more information about the program and its underlying
principles. In addition, OPTIMAX.TXT contains a detailed
discussion of the selection of various optical components for
Newtonian reflectors, including matters such as selecting
F/ ratios for mirrors, determining the proper size and location
of the diagonal mirror, and evaluating eyepieces. These files may
be retrieved as ASCII or DOS text files intomany word processors
or they may be printed at the DOS command prompt by using the
following commands:
TYPE OPTIMAX.DOC >PRN [RETURN]
TYPE OPTIMAX.TXT >PRN [RETURN]
assuming that these files are in the current directory.
If you have any questions or comments about OPTIMAX, please contact
the author at:
Max E. Klinger
3142 Folsom Street
Boulder, CO 80304.