Parabolic Solar Concentrator

thingiverse

A notion that's been percolating in the recesses of my mind for an eternity now. I initially fabricated one out of cardboard and aluminum foil, which functioned satisfactorily. My ultimate objective is to create a truly colossal one someday, featuring a flash boiler at its focal point. Print the section six times and secure them together using glue or a hose clamp around the elevated central segment. Coat the parabolic surface with tinfoil or reflective paint. Circulate water through a coil of copper tubing at the focal point. Mount the entire assembly on a platform that tracks the sun's movement. The flange will facilitate mounting to an equatorial mount. I've made an educated guess regarding the curvature, and it's likely that a more precise curve would yield even better results. Can anyone provide mathematical insight or guidance? At 100% scale, each segment prints in approximately two hours with support material. Conversely, at 300% scale, the entire parabola can be printed in about one and a half days without support. I'd appreciate any updates on your progress with this design.