When you want to budget to buy a parabolic mirror, you need to determine the use for the mirror and then seek quotes from parabolic mirror suppliers, as most companies do not offer online prices. The reason for this is that parabolic mirrors pricing and costs vary depending on the size of the mirror and the purpose for it. The variety of parabolic mirrors ranges from a parabolic primary mirror to an off-axis mirror.

Business owners may want to incorporate parabolic mirrors into products like telescopes or cameras. Even businesses that don't work in industries serving science, astronomy or photography can consider purchasing parabolic reflectors for solar energy generation. When it comes to the pricing and costs, it may help to narrow your search to one of the following options.

1. Get quotes for parabolic telescope mirror for use in a telescope lens.

2. Find out the parabolic mirror price from manufacturers that make off-axis mirrors.

3. Elicit prices for parabolic reflectors for use in solar energy generation.

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The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Contact companies for quotes on parabolic telescope mirrors

Most companies that make parabolic telescope mirrors can also make optic mirrors for cameras and other pieces of equipment. If you want to purchase the mirror directly rather than buying the entire lens, you'll need to contact manufacturers for a quote. Some companies offer the same prices to individuals as they do to other companies.

I recommend: R.F. Royce offers an article on the different types of mirror reflectors. Royce makes parabolic telescope mirrors and will provide a quote for interested individuals. Kaleido Technology produces diamond-turned parabolic mirrors. It offers descriptions for the types of mirrors that it makes, and you can use the inquiry form to get a quote.

Get parabolic mirrors pricing and costs from suppliers of off-axis mirrors

Sometimes an off-axis parabolic mirror will work just as well as an on-axis mirror but cost less. Like other types of parabolic mirror manufacturers, these manufacturers work by providing quotes for their mirrors. In some cases, you may be able to get a discount if you purchase more than one parabolic mirror at a time.

I recommend: Newport specializes in off-axis replicated parabolic mirrors. It offers a variety of useful tools at its website to help you plan your budget, including a guide to select the best lens that's available in the catalog PDF. Spectrum Scientific provides an article that features the cost-effective benefits of replicated parabolic mirrors. It also include a link to the sales department for pricing information.

Price parabolic mirrors that you can use for solar collection

Parabolic mirrors have a variety of use when it comes to energy. Mirrors around light bulbs can increase the power of light and can start as little as a few dollars per mirror. Larger mirrors can start at $29.95. The type of parabolic mirrors used by solar plants can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars well into the million dollar range.

I recommend: Edmund Scientific sells large parabolic reflectors in 12- to 24-inch diameters. Prices for the company start at $29.95 before shipping. Astralux Environmental Solutions provides information on the financial benefits of using solar power. It can provide quotes for implementing solar techniques into your home or business.

Parabolic mirrors are conical-shaped devices that catch energy (like light, sound or radio waves) and concentrate it to a single point. Sometimes parabolic mirrors (also called parabolic reflectors or parabolic dishes) may also distribute energy. Although one of the first uses of parabolic mirrors was in telescopes, today parabolic mirrors are used not only in astronomy, but in many other technical fields. They are quite commonly seen in satellite dishes, microphones and a variety of lights.

When you need to buy parabolic mirror products for your business, finding the right source is crucial—but not always easy. Many distributors and manufacturers only sell mirrors for certain applications, while others simply don't provide the quality you'll need in industrial parabolic mirrors. The three main categories of parabolic mirrors you'll discover are:

1. Off-axis parabolic mirrors,

2. On-axis parabolic mirrors,

3. And custom parabolic mirrors.

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Select off-axis parabolic mirror suppliers

Off-axis parabolic mirrors turn plane waves into spherical waves, and vice versa. They are widely used for spectrometers and astronomical optical instruments, and they're possibly the easiest of all parabolic telescope mirrors to find.

I recommend: OptoSigma Corporation sells off-axis parabolic mirrors that are spherical and chromatic aberration-free, as well as highly durable. Newport Corporation offers parabolic mirrors with a wide range of working distances and coatings of either aluminum or gold. Shimadzu manufactures parabolic mirrors for spectrometers, interferometers, astronomical optical instruments, spectrum analyzers and other applications.

Buy on-axis parabolic reflectors

On-axis parabolic mirrors are fast and often used in ultra-high power laser physics and astronomy. Although they're relatively affordable, they can be more difficult to find than other types of parabolic mirrors.

I recommend: Kaleido Technology makes on-axis parabolic mirrors, including spheric, aspheric and any rotationally symmetric shape. Edmund Optics sells a good selection of parabolic mirrors designed to give 1/8 wave surface accuracy or better. Parks Optical offers parabolic primary mirror products in addition to other types of parabolic telescope mirror devices.

Choose custom industrial parabolic mirrors

Sometimes it's difficult or impossible to find the right parabolic mirror for your business application. When that happens, there are a number of manufacturers able to create custom parabolic mirrors for your needs.

I recommend: Holographix is a parabolic mirrors manufacturer that creates custom parabolic mirrors for your business needs. Optical Mechanics will also produce custom parabolic mirrors. Nu-Tek Precision Optical Corporation offers a good selection of parabolic mirrors and also does custom work for businesses.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Although parabolic mirrors are sometimes used in solar energy in the United States, if your customers are in Central Europe, they likely never use them for this purpose. Because parabolic mirrors used to collect the sun's heat can become incredibly hot, solar energy products in Central Europe use other types of materials.

A parabolic mirror has many uses, both in the scientific world and as a way to improve solar power. If you're not familiar with parabolic mirrors key terms, however, you may not be sure what type you need. You may need to purchase an off-axis parabolic mirror or a diamond-turned parabolic mirror. It also helps to understand optical replication and the mirror's focal point. Learn the following words to help you make a decision about parabolic mirrors.

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Off-axis parabolic mirror

An off-axis parabolic mirror is a mirror that has been cut off from a larger parabolic mirror. This means that it doesn't have the same parabola shape that you would expect from a traditional parabolic mirror.

I recommend: ZEMAX has an article on demystifying the off-axis parabolic mirror that explains its uses.

Diamond-turned parabolic mirror

A diamond-turned parabolic mirror has more than one focal point. This presents a diversion from the more traditional type of parabolic mirror.

I recommend: II-VI Infrared explains diamond-turned optics, such as parabolic mirrors and shows pictures.

Parabolic reflectors

Parabolic reflector is the term used for a mirror that captures and reflects light. They are typically used in professional photography, to increase the power of the flash. More recently, they are also being used in solar power applications, magnifying the effects of the sun to increase the amount of energy collected by solar panels.

I recommend: See an example of parabolic reflectors at Scientifics.

Parabolic telescope mirror

A parabolic telescope mirror is used in large telescopes. They take in the light from the stars and reflect it into a focal point. This is the image that you see.

I recommend: R.F. Royce makes parabolic telescope mirrors and shows a picture on its site.

Optical replication

The optical replication process is what is used in a parabolic mirror. In this process, the original is treated with a release layer and a negative of the surface is attached. This can then be used to create a replication of the original.

I recommend: Spectrum Scientific describes the optical replication process and offers a diagram to illustrate the concept.

Focal point

Because parabolic mirrors have a concave curved shape to them, the light that they reflect is not straight, as in a traditional mirror. Rather, the curve of the mirror focuses all light into a single point, called the focal point.

I recommend: Learn about the focal point and how to calculate it Michigan State University.

Parabolic mirrors have been around for a while--the first use may have been by Sir Isaac Newton in the 1700s. Its shape has been designed specifically to "capture energy and focus it to a single point." Parabolic mirrors are generally made of glass that has low expansion. One of the most common uses of the parabolic mirror is in a telescope.

There are various parabolic mirror types and styles. These parabolic mirrors can be industrial parabolic mirrors, a parabolic telescope mirror or a parabolic reflector:

1. Off-axis parabolic mirrors

2. On-axis parabolic mirrors

3. Custom parabolic mirrors

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Learn about the off-axis parabolic mirror

The off-axis parabolic mirror is a parabolic mirror with a small section cut from it. These parabolic mirrors can be available off-axis at 30°, 60° or 90°, which means you can focus light at a specific angle. Often the suppliers of off-axis parabolic mirrors sell a mounting plate for their mirrors, as well. They are called parabolic reflectors because they 'focus reflected light to a focal point off-axis.'

I recommend: Edmund Optics Worldwide is a parabolic mirrors manufacturer that makes off-axis mirrors. Photonics Online is another source for off-axis parabolic mirrors.

Learn about on-axis parabolic mirror

The parabolic primary mirror or on-axis parabolic mirror is often a parabolic telescope mirror. The parabolic telescope mirrors are very difficult to make and must be perfectly smooth to be completely accurate.

I recommend: On-axis parabolic mirrors can be found at Hampton Controls and Nu-Tek Precision Optical Corporation.

Choose the custom parabolic mirror

Perhaps you cannot find a parabolic mirror that suits your needs. Or maybe you need a parabolic mirror that's an atypical size. Custom manufacturers can design parabolic mirrors that fit within specific instruments or optical devices.

I recommend: JML Optical Industries and LEI Optics are two custom parabolic manufacturers.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When you buy parabolic mirror or buy parabolic reflector, be sure to ask about the parabolic mirror price as well as about any discounts.