We present an overview of the engineering design and empirical performance of four stressed-lap polishing tools developed at the University of Arizona. Descriptions of the electromechanical actuators, servo systems, computer interfacing, and attachment of the lap to the polishing machine are provided. The empirical performance of a representative tool is discussed in terms of accuracy, repeatability, and hysteresis. Finally, we estimate the statistical likelihood of aluminum lap-plate failure through a metal-fatigue analysis for a worst-case stress-cycling situation.

A parametric model of wind buffeting on an extremely large telescope with a multipod secondary support is described. The model estimates wave-front errors that are due to wind buffeting on a segmented primary, wind-induced secondary figure and position errors, and primary-mirror deformations caused by wind forces on the secondary support. The approach is based on a Zernike expansion of pressure fluctuations, with simple models of stiffness, resonance, and control. The model shows that wind buffeting on a multipod attached to the primary mirror cell significantly degrades the image quality in a large telescope with a slow primary.

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