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I wanted the long focal length for good contrast. Un-real!!! Ask Question Step 5: Stepper Motor Choice #2 - NEMA-17 Geared Stepper Motor If your optical train is heavy and the focuser has to bear it (see above) then this motor may be a better choice. Best Wishes, Reply knitting needle where it goes through the hole, so it's not a big deal, But let me see what items I can arrange to make a helical. Focuser (GSO 2 speed low profile Crayford): $139 Ebony star strips: 2 @ $10 Ebony star ring: $59 Teflon strip: $11 Telrad base: $10 Baltic Birch " sheet (60X60): $42 Baltic Birch 5/8" sheet (60X60): $48 Circle cutting jig: $30 Birch Veneer (4X8 piece): $65 Hardware, stain, other supplies: $80 Total cost for supplies for this project: $1700 Dobsonian telescopes are popular with amateur telescope makers for their ease of design and construction, portability, and their use of large optical mirrors. The company has a reputation for excellent optics, and it was neither the most expensive, nor the least. Homemade astronomy. Nice one. After waiting for the contact cement to dry to the touch, and with my wife's help, I carefully aligned the edge of the veneer with the guideline on the tube and pressed the first inch together. The mirror itself must also be able to tilt in three dimensions in order to aim its light at the secondary mirror (a process called collimation). The day I received the refund, I ordered a mirror cell from University Optics. I attached keepers 1 inches wide by 5 inches long, extending above the bottom of the arcs by about 1 inches. I am a retired USAF electronics engineer, and might even do much of the construction of the base with welded structural tubing, as, I do have a complete metal working shop besides my wood shop, here. I paid the 50% deposit and dreamed of DSOs. The length of the Rocker Front also had to be changed so that the outside edge of the Side Bearings matched the outside edge of the Rocker Sides precisely. The mirror box encloses the mirror cell and allows the entire telescope to rotate vertically. It uses a primary mirror to capture and reflect light, a secondary mirror to direct light into an eyepiece, and a focuser to make fine adjustments for viewing. The overall project is super cheap, we're building this thing for something like $50 in materials. Part numbers 351-4574 and 336-422. } catch(err) {}, SH-232 Sharpless sh-232, sh-231, sh-233, sh-235, NGC2174 Monkey Head Nebula, Sharpless 252, Sh2-252, HDW3 Hartl-Dengel-Weinberger 3 PN G149.4-09.2, SH-198 Sharpless 198, Soul Nebula, IC1848, NGC281 IC11, Sharpless Sh2-184, Pacman Nebula, SH2-173 SH2-173 Phantom of the Opera LBN 593, SH2-168 Sharpless HII regions. It took a lot longer than I expected to receive my mirror and other parts from Discovery. The 48 inch width of the veneer was close enough to the diameter of the tube that I used it as is. on Introduction. The cage should be a hollow cylinder about wider than the mirror, with the focuser mounted directly facing the secondary mirror. To make the hole for the focuser, I used the focuser tube to mark a circle in the shroud. Perfect for visual observations with very heavy mirrors. Also, I will work with my computer geek buddies, so that we eventually automate it using Linux on a Rock64, to run kstars for tracking, on INDI. Earthbound1 likes this #2 dave brock Mercury-Atlas More Homemade Refractor Telescope DIY Erecting Prism Binoviewer Focuser here: Did you make this project? Quick demo of my motorized focuser, and I will create a detailed tutorial if enough people are interested. This motor is available on Amazon. i got a email that someone built a telescope close to mine that has seen the stuff in the photos here is a link to his site http://www.synapticsystems.com/sky/scopes/Dob.htmlif i seem a bit rude please forgive me i just spent 12hrs in a plane i have jetlag and im sitting in a airport.i would like to thank lvlasertech for keeping this instructable lively and informative. It's the same in form, but has a perfect, true 13.35mm hole. While a sling or whiffletree provide the best edge support, a two-point edge support is much easier to construct. Once you get it working, there's some calibration you need to do. needle to be just a little too flexible for the weight of a diagonal and All i did was supply the telescope as far as his camera equipment i dont know what he used i never saw it all i know is he had my scope for about a month while i was traveling and he gave me these photos. I even began taking careful notes about needed supplies and plans for each piece of the truss tube scope. Make the drawtube longer than you think you'll need, just in small, it's surprisingly rigid. You can easily, and economically (10$) build a Crayford Helical Focuser like the one pictured above in one evening with simple tools. I've been using the above pair You can view and download the full file here. I got no response to phone calls or emails after another week, and decided to wait until the primary would be finished in another two weeks. Edited by sunrag, 28 May 2020 - 10:44 PM. But I wanted a larger mirror, and, at that size, grinding my own was not an option. I have already seen some designs on CN, Stellafane and web but still checking if someone has recently made anything simpler. This resulted in a gear that wasn't true and "wobbled" a bit. During on-site assembly, attach each truss to its mounting T-nut using a bolt with a thumbscrew knob. I began building it in the spring of 2008, but the bulk of the work was done in July of 2008 with first light occurring on July 25. I was inspired to build telescopes during a trip out to McDonald Observatory in west Texas, where I saw a 36 fork-mounted telescope, tiny in comparison to the huge research telescopes at the site. Find a special something for the makers in your life. I had some carboy caps that make good knobs. Use the externalMirror Edge Support Calculatorto decide whether to use a two-point, four-point (whiffletree), or sling support. (Technically, it should have been 62.5 for a 12.5 inch f/5, but when the mirror came it had a note on the back that the focal length was 61 inches.) This combination has proved to be effective for all positions except when the tube is pointed directly up. Another thing, the resolution on the Dumbell nebula seems a bit too high for that telescope. Some of the very best planetary and deep sky pics I have seen have come from a Fuji S3 professioanl camera [based on a Nikon body] and a Canon 20Da, which was designed with [I think] a user replaceable inside the mirror box filter for astral photography. Inside the OTA is a ring of tightly fitting flocking paper that prevents any light getting in around the drawtube. It took about 3 weeks but, since Anttler's did not even reply to the Paypal dispute, I received a Paypal refund. On the bottom of the Bottom board is a ring of Ebony Star laminate that glides over the three teflon pads located directly above the feet on the ground board. Once Id built a CNC router, I embarked on my third telescope, featuring a 16 primary mirror with aluminum trusses, wide vertical bearing arcs, a steel front-adjustable mirror cell, and a rotating base. I started by trying to drill out a metal gear for the focuser shaft. This means I can use FocusMax to do the focusing. The lumber yard also gave me a lower price than I expected. The pieces were cut down to 15 3/8 and 14 3/8, allowing just under 1/8 inch on each side. Several of my Recent Images have been focused with this system. focusers for that project. narrow the frame. (actually, it ended up a smidge more than 2 inches). If you connect the 12V power with the barrel connector (right side of photo), the Nano should light up without the USB connection. Or in my case, back to SolidWorks :-). Most of these have one or two set screws. You need to order it sized for your focuser shaft size. The 2-1.25" adapter is a sink drain slip fitting in 1-1/4" size that slips into the large tube for 1.25 EP's. larger diameter. Use mild soap and distilled . This simple homemade device will reduce star trails far better than if the camera was mounted on a tripod alone. Before I wrapped the tube (and before I discovered the problem with the primary placement) I determined the balance point on the tube. Using a compass, I drew lines for the inside and outside of the Ebony Star ring on the top and bottom of the rocker bottom. Here is what I was working on but looks like I need a better design. ScopeStuff is awesome!! initiatives for the next generation of makers. Several clamps were used to hold the pieces together overnight. I like the old way of using stepper motors and other stuff introduced years ago by Mel Bartels, he is a master for me. I was certain not to move the jig at all before cutting the second circle. Finally, attach your polar alignment device and align it with the hinge. Thanks again for the 'ible. On that noteWARNING:do not look directly into the sun and never point a telescope into the sun without proper filtration you can damage your telescope and burn your retinas and possibly go blind i am not a astrophotographer so i cant comment on the quality of the pictures since there is so much doubt on the photos i will gladly take them down. Because mirror flexure can distort an image, supporting the mirror properly involves building a flotation cell. I told them to take their time and get it right. Trim off any unused fabric along the base. You need some purple bits The ARtemis module came in a kit form actually just two circuit boards one of which I had to source the parts, build and box myself. Sonotube (14 inch diameter, 12 feet long): $70, Focuser (GSO 2 speed low profile Crayford): $139, Total cost for supplies for this project: $1700. The rocker sides are each made of two identical pieces of inch plywood glued together, creating two sides one inch thick. Then it was time to stain and finish. Carve out a hole on the top part of the sonotube first. Not sure if it is available in the USA. This was to allow the circle cutting jig to be attached to the board to cut the arcs from a center point of 25 inches above the ground. both sides. Remember: It is the quality and SIZE of the capture chip, NOT the megapixels that determines quality. With an outer diameter of 14 3/16, I cut the Tube Box sides 15 5/8 and 14 5/8slightly less than my extra inch extra on each side. Given any mirror measurements, PLOP will provide the ideal support layout and how much distortion to expect for any number of flotation points. I used the "LEDandBuzzer" and "TestStepsDRV8825" tests. A decent machinest will do a far better job, but, there is always a lot more pleasure to be gained per astrophoto when you make bits yourself. Download and check them out, I just grabbed the first one and printed it. forces the knitting needle against the drawtube and the drawtube against The shroud made from two 22 inch tall containers came out short, so I had to add an eleven inch strip of nylon. When I looked at the costs, I seriously considered buying an Orion telescope instead of building my own. If you look in the FILES area on Robert Brown's site (see link above) you will see a sub-folder "3D Printed Parts". I have not yet figured out a better way to hold the tube. This can be shimmed out with paper wrapped around the This combination has the best resolution (steps/revolution), so I didn't see any reason to build anything else. I was finishing this inner debate when I got a copy of the book The Dobsonian Telescope by Kriege and Berry as a Christmas gift. exactly 2" with adhesive labels placed one at a time inside the tube This cost around $100 to build and all of the components came from. 4 years ago Thank you for your pages. The wood would cost the same, as would pretty much everything except the mirror, so why not spend a little more on the mirror and go BIG. Overall, I'm very happy with the outcome of this project - focusing is now a joy. While I will freely admit that most astro-photography is WAY beyond me, you certainly do NOT need a $3200 camera to do so. Fairly easy to build and could be adapted to suit any SCT focuser. I decided to order a mirror cell from them because the owner had talked about a new cell he was excited about. The bearings only need to be Here's a detailed response from a thread at CloudyNights:http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showthreaded.php?Cat=0&Number=4721255 "The image scale is wrong on the M31 image, fits too much of the galaxy in for even a 35mm chip. A 10 inch scope would not be very much longer or heavier than my 6 inch, yet it would allow me to see much more. Attach the eye piece to another cardboard piece and pass it through the hole from the inside of the tube. It is named after the Crayford Manor House Astronomical Society, Crayford, London, England where it was invented by John Wall, a member of the astronomical society which meets there. That is dirt cheap compared to the cost of commercially available focusers, which can top $1000 and are much heavier than what we will build. I ground and figured the mirror with little troubles, making my focault tester, etc. Thanks for your article. The spider, or secondary mirror holder, will suspend the mirror in the optical path in order to direct light into the focuser. Because thebasic movement and optics requirements are relatively simple, much of the design is left to the builder. That way you won't be dropping your drawtube and It features 2 semicircular arms, and mounting points for the trusses (T-nuts are fine), as well as a lid to keep the mirror safe when the telescope is not in use. We all know the problems with focusing. I am working on a diy focuser design for my 6" F/8 telescope and asking suggestions for simple focuser. That's pretty much the focuser. I have built a homemade electric focuser for my Celestron 8SE using a radio control hobby servo and some spare parts. To hold the tube in place within the tube box, I used a combination of pieces of felt inside the box and wooden shims between the tube and the box. The belt and pulleys are off-the-shelf items available on Amazon. This cost around $100 to build and all of the components came from Jaycar, except the brackets which were made with 1.2mm sheet metal. However more than the focuser, I liked your scope. In order for the Rocker Box to pivot on the Ground Board, a center pin is placed in a hole at the exact center of the Ground Board and Rocker Bottom. 24 T-nuts, with matching 2 bolts and knobs, 8 Aluminum tubing, thin wall, 1 square, 4 lengths I got mine from Cycle 24, Black woven velveteen, 68 Cut it so it stretches along the 6 axis. We tried this in our back yard, but found that it was too difficult to aim both the tube and the moving mirror at distant trees in our suburban yard. Place the focuser, draw the position of the screws with a pencil and remove the focuser. The next day, I called back to ask their opinion about the kind of spider and secondary holder to order. Your choice here will be recorded for all Make.co Websites. A wide hole will let the knitting needle creep A A 6 in primary mirror does not have enough weight to make the dob stable. Before you do this, the stepper motor will probably move, but it will make a 'stuttering' sound instead of moving smoothly. Given that you can make the drawtube any length you together tech enthusiasts, crafters, educators across the globe. 11 years ago with a genuine question or comment about the design. Built one of these http://emediadesigns.com/focuser/ working really well only cost less than 40.00. Since these focusers were going side-by-side on a binocular Since there is no drill bit that exactly matches the 13.1mm of the shaft, I had to do some rough enlargement of the hole. All in all it seemed like a pretty robust design, so I gave it In my build, the cage was cut on a CNC router from plywood, with threaded T-nuts added to support a truss assembly. Slide the eyepiece into the focuser and try it out. adapter set screws to slide into. A smart collection of books, magazines, electronics kits, robots, microcontrollers, tools, supplies, and more They suggested a construction supply place on the other side of the city that I had not called yet. DO NOT drill out the holes in the board! It takes the unknown out of focusing, and is easy to re-focus between filters, or refocus several times during a long exposure run as the world cools down. The blue pieces of the rocker box and ground board are arranged as in the diagrams in (figure 2). Pioneered by John Dobson in the 1960s, the instrument combines a Newtonian reflector telescope with a unique two-axis movable base. Orion Dynamo Mini for powering a Nexstar 6SE? Whether you need a basic rack-and-pinion telescope focuser for your homemade telescope project or a premium Crayford-type model with dual-speed focusing as a performance upgrade, you have come to the right place. Ideally, the spacer would be 1 inch long and have a smaller diameter, but I didn't get this one right the first time. Two of the holes for the bolts were blocked by knobs. I had initially allowed for more of a gap, but realized once I cut the pieces and held the tube inside them that my gap was too large. and an eyepiece. After researching several possible sources for a primary mirror, I decided to order an f/5 12.5 inch mirror from Discovery Optics. We were careful to press out any bubbles as we went, but when the job was done we found that there were multiple bubbles in the veneer. DIY Truss Dob input: How to design truss? Dozens of projects in every issue covering electronics, craft, fabrication, and more, Learn tips and skill-building tutorials from experts in the maker community. Lining up this center point with the center of the top of the side bearing, I brought the corner of the side bearing up to the edge of the tube box and attached it with screws. Primary telescope mirror aftermarket, homemade, or custom-made. But by this time I had thought about building my own scope for several weeks, and getting one off the shelf seemed pretty boring by comparison! think that design would be rigid enough under the weight of a diagonal In order to check your measurements, you can construct jigs for your mirror cell and secondary cage, positioning them on a straight, adjustable track such as 2 planks of wood. Subscribe to the premier DIY magazine today, Community access, print, and digital Magazine, and more. Or rather, I hated it. Drill a hole and attach the ball head using a shorter 1/4" 20 bolt. Next, attach the eyepiece and the focuser to the top part of the telescope tube. The plate has slotted screw holes for tensioning the 6mm belt. After a dry fit of the rocker to make sure that the tube box with side bearings would fit well, I glued the rocker sides to the rocker front, holding them in place with small nails and clamping overnight. If you enter it in the next contest please let me know and i will make sure to vote for you. I was inspired to build telescopes during a trip out to McDonald Observatory in west Texas, where I saw a 36 fork-mounted telescope, tiny in comparison to the huge research telescopes at the site. I wasn't there so i can be 100% but i do not think my friend was lying to me and i believe the pictures are from my telescope my kids use it for stargazing a lot i have seen some deepspace but i use it mainly for sketching the moon and i like to view solar flares. Thanks Bob. Rock Paper Scissors Using Tinkercad Circuits and Arduino, Punchy the MECH & the Autonomous Fight Club, Soft-sensor-saurus | an E-textile Soft Sensor Soft Toy With LED Light. This scope was originally made as a travel scope using an eight inch mirror that I ground and polished at the St Pete Astronomy Clubs Mirror Lab. This software creates a model of your telescope by measuring out of focus star sizes at various points. I will post the pic of final focuser once ready. The Dob is really a great design. I only do functional. I used my router to "mill" a flat area for better contact with the focus adjustment rod. Measure the diameter of the exposed shaft. The one company that did provide a price quoted over $500more than I was willing to pay for cardboard! I wanted to finish that instructable before the contest ended but was too late :-). knob, and a drill press to make sure the hole for the knitting needle Most people will want a knob on Bore out some 2.5 inch bar and mill a flat down the side making sure it is lined up. I marked the spot and moved things back inside to install the mirror. I had nearly completed the base and put things together for the first time. 1/4" x 20 bolt, and the nylon bolt end against the smooth knitting Some of these are essential for the basic functionalities of our websites. The core of the telescope, the steel mirror cell holds and adjusts the heavy, curved primary mirror. I also wanted to buy the other mechanical partsmirror cell, spider, secondary holder, and focuserso that the performance of these pieces was not limited by my skills. Thicker walls also required thicker side bearings so that the outside of the bearings would line up with the outside of the rocker sides. I also wanted to strengthen and protect the cardboard tube. The focal length of the mirror is 61 inches. Perfect for astrophotography or during high power planetary observation. Unfortunately I don't have a 3d printer. My guess is that photo was taken with a refractor. the nylon screws going up from the bottom, but I found the knitting I would love to see your build when you are finished with it .