hobby #178

Diffraction Grating Ruling

Mechanical scribing of parallel grooves onto polished glass or aluminum blanks to create transmission or reflection diffraction gratings. Using a motorized micrometer stage or adapted lathe to rule 100-600 lines per millimeter with a diamond stylus. Verifies spectral resolution by comparing ruled gratings against commercial references under sodium D-line illumination. Explores the relationship between groove spacing, blaze angle, and wavelength dispersion.

Jun 28 4:28 AM #178 6 min

Twenty Grooves Where Two Thousand Should Be

Diffraction Grating Ruling

Commercial gratings cost $347. Ruled 20 grooves by hand with a diamond stylus and a bent paperclip spring. Only 7,480 grooves to go.

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