Flats, Spiders, & Focusers page 7 of 25
Given R = 5", F = 54", and r = 1.3 / 2 = 0.65:
Using the formulas in the diagram gives angle c = 5.3128°, and a = 6.9898".
These values remain constant throughout the rest of the calculations.
Now it is time to consider the upper triangle
ABC. The first thing to note is that angle B for this triangle is the
sum of 90° and 45° = 135°. We can now find the remaining angle in the upper
triangle by subtracting angles c and B from 180. By the Law of Sines:
side c = a sin c / sin A = 1.0135". Likewise, in the lower triangle
A'BC, the angle B is given as 45°. Thus angle A' = 180° - 45°
- 5.3128° = 129.6872°. Here side c' = a sin c / sin A' = 0.8410, and
we can add side c to side c' to get our flat's new length of 1.8545".