homemade telescope focuser

Also no obvious diffraction spikes in the m31 photo. guarantee a response, but I'll do my best to answer everyone who writes For the ATMer I do find that there are an endless number of parts that can be designed and printed for home built telescopes and binoscopes. So, for my telescope I used a 6mm to 5mm coupler available on Amazon. Thin 1/16 Kydex plastic should be cut to length to line the inside of the cage as a baffle to block outside 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 This scope was originally made as a travel scope using an eight inch mirror that I ground and polished at the St Pete Astronomy Clubs Mirror Lab. I file a dispute with Paypal to begin the process of getting my money back. Slide the eyepiece into the focuser and try it out. I told them to take their time and get it right. The wide square footprint would make it pretty stable when mounted to Best Wishes, Reply OK, no, I do not have a homemade Crayford focuser but am planning to build a 3 incher for next years 17" reflector telescope project and to hold my new 30mm ES 100 degree EP. I had considered using a clear finish alone, but decided to use a dark red finish on the base and a clear finish on the tube, just because I like the look. But who cares, really? narrow the frame. crafts, science & engineering, design, and technology. This sure is going to be a project I will work on. A smart collection of books, magazines, electronics kits, robots, microcontrollers, tools, supplies, and more Your astrophotographer friend may have included his own images from his setup. Picture of DS-4. The flat wants to be running parallel to the long axis of the tube. I used the "LEDandBuzzer" and "TestStepsDRV8825" tests. I am well versed in technology, have all the tools necessary to build my own! 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 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. Obviously an open truss telescope. Just drill holes in both ends and mount the lenses. Given that you can make the drawtube any length you The back of the mirror floats on 3 or more support points (this build uses 6) that are calculated usinga software tool called PLOP. Pioneered by John Dobson in the 1960s, the instrument combines a Newtonian reflector telescope with a unique two-axis movable base. Motorise Your Own Telescope (updated 10-19-2017). - Instructables Two such companies would not give me a price because the order of a single tube was too small. I gave them a call and they said they had one on the shelf14 inches in diameter and 12 feet long! The Crayford Focuser and DIY Focuser for Homemade Telescope It stalled when tension on the belt increased. Orion Dynamo Mini for powering a Nexstar 6SE? It has a 6mm shaft. If you enter it in the next contest please let me know and i will make sure to vote for you. Using a compass I drew circles on the top and bottom of the ground board to mark the inside and outside of the teflon ring on the bottom of the rocker bottom. Im sorry to hear you couldn't make the contest. eyepiece on the ground (or worse, on your primary mirror!) It took a lot longer than I expected to receive my mirror and other parts from Discovery. At their suggestion, I also ordered a 2.6 inch secondary mirror. After looking at many focuser options with a big range of prices, I decided to order a GSO 2 speed Crayford focuser from ScopeStuff. They're fairly homemade Crayford focuser. I've been using the above pair I suppose that one could complete this project without these two tools, but it would be difficult to cut the pieces accurately enough for a good fit. I have one on my 12" f/5 truss dob and the focuser knob is on the top surface of the UTA. 8 years ago Position "0" is with the focuser all the way IN (at least for a refractor). Share a cool tool or product with the community. When you figure out 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. It turns out the the extra 1/16 allowed far too much side to side movement between the rocker and ground board. initiatives for the next generation of makers. As I read the book I decided that I should build a 12.5 inch truss tube scope. tube and nut that fits the outside threads. Before you do this, the stepper motor will probably move, but it will make a 'stuttering' sound instead of moving smoothly. All Orion 1.25" and 2" telescope focusers are engineered to provide smooth drawtube action to ensure you hit the exact focus point . Please re-enable javascript to access full functionality. I called in the order and explained that I would be using a mirror two inches thick. The bigger upvc nut will be attached to focuser plate and longer threaded side will be used on it for the focusing. The overall project is super cheap, we're building this thing for something like $50 in materials. I also decided to make a separate mounting plate for the stepper motor, since I figured aligning the shafts precisely would be all but impossible. I don't have the skills to build a focuser using a. The last chapter of the book describes a plan for an 8 inch sonotube dob with a few design elements from their truss design, and, as I read that chapter, the simplicity of its construction was very appealing. surfaces to put the bearings in and a vee at the bottom that would hold Maker-written books designed to inform and delight! I laughed, packed up the cell with a long letter describing the series of events that led to the return, and put it in the mail. PhotoPictureResizer_190723_214534574_crop_2558x3105_copy_1023x1242.jpg. When you want to focus, you just open the program and press focus. This is my copy of the telescope that Sir Isaac Newton presented to the Royal Society of London in 1671, and is considered to be the first successful reflecting telescope. Measure twice, drill This project is based on Robert Brown's "Arduino ASCOM Focuser Pro2 DIY". 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. Brandon Lawler is a hobbyist telescope Maker and an active member of the Central Texas Astronomical Society. If you're not familiar with Arduino, watch some tutorial videos. 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. Today I purchased what is called atank nipple in India. the drive shaft close against the drawtube. - Bill. I don't have the skills to build a focuser using a. Primary telescope mirror aftermarket, homemade, or custom-made. They suggested a construction supply place on the other side of the city that I had not called yet. For a while I decided that 10 inch would be the best size. Download and unzip. There are some test sketches in the "Tests" folder, start with those. widening the hole. The bearings only need to be The focuser is very smooth. 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 concerned that it would be difficult to find, but I was able to order it from a local woodworking shop. And, once your telescope is finished, be sure to join a local astronomy club to learn more about the sky and share your hobby with others. While I will freely admit that most astro-photography is WAY beyond me, you certainly do NOT need a $3200 camera to do so. My DIY Motorized Telescope Focuser - YouTube I wanted a tight / press fit, so I only added half that, 0.25mm. I These will be stored in your browser only with your consent and you have the option to opt-out. A project collaboration and documentation platform. I want to put my 12.5 mirror in a collapsible structure so I can haul it easy, Say a truss tube design, 7 years ago To get a slide-fit in a 3D printed part, you normally make the hole 0.5mm larger than the shaft. Tom's Homemade Telescope Page - Issac Newton Scope - Google I used one of these scrap pieces to draw an angle of 70 degrees to the edge of the arc so that I could later place the teflon pads on the arcs. Wooden Telescope Part 2: Tube and Mount - Instructables There are sub-folders for the different versions. Share it with us! A celebration of the Maker Movement, a family-friendly showcase of invention and creativity that gathers I started by trying to drill out a metal gear for the focuser shaft. After going over the surfaces with a tack cloth to pick up the saw dust, I applied the stain and went over it with cheese cloth rags for an even finish. We moved the operation to a nearby park and got a focused image of the most distant trees (300-400 yards away) quite easily. I have seen some VERY impressive photos similar to those, taken with Nikon D700 and D300 cameras, with the proper filters- and mounts- on a quality scope. It was May 12th. once. like, you can have as much focuser travel as you want no matter how Interfaced with a computer, so the computer can make the decisions about where the best focus is. After a few weeks of no communication from them, no ability to phone or email them, and no mirror cell arriving. Instead of the rack and pinion, they have a smooth spring-loaded shaft which holds the focus tube against four opposing bearing surfaces, and controls its movement. 1" Rack & Pinion Focuser. Homemade Electric Telescope Focuser - Stargazers Lounge When you add the minimum distance from the eyepiece to the secondary mirror together with the distance from the secondary mirror to the primary, the total length should be the primary mirrors focal length. Since these focusers were going side-by-side on a binocular he might just have a $3200 camera, they aren't very hard to come by. experimented with various wires and rods and eventually decided that a As the thread shows you could also build the dual speed version, all made of plywood, if you feel ready to tackle a slightly more complex project for a cost of about 5$ more. Able to make myself using my own humble tools (or toys as the pros will call them!). Measure the diameter of the exposed shaft. I do have another tube that can be used around the drawtube, but it doesn't really add anything. This proved fatal for the stepper motor! The pivot bolt consists of a 1 1/8 inch brass spacer with an 11/16 inch outer diameter, a 3/8 inch bolt 2 inches long, a stop nut, and two large washers. You need some purple bits Yet I was also becoming infected with aperture fever. Drill a hole and attach the ball head using a shorter 1/4" 20 bolt. The sides were attached with wood glue and clamps with a few small brads to hold everything in place. I decided to order an aluminum mirror cell from University Optics instead so that the mirror could be supported at 9 different points. Once you get it working, there's some calibration you need to do. More Homemade Refractor Telescope DIY Erecting Prism Binoviewer Focuser here: Did you make this project? 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. Perfect for astrophotography or during high power planetary observation. astronowanabe, Pierre Lemay, LarsMalmgren and. Install on Windows 10, this part is pretty straightforward. I welded mine from steel square tubing. Nice work and great instructable! (actually, it ended up a smidge more than 2 inches) Lighter than the existing focuser. This one is based on the DRV8825 driver chip and a NEMA-17 stepper motor. curated by us, the people behind Make: and the Maker Faire. Please feel free to email me at the address on the right. 5 weeks after I had ordered the mirror, I called to ask about its status. I attached them with very small brads, countersinking the brads. Crayford focusers are considered superior to entry-level rack and pinion focusers, normally found in this type of device. One 6in dob I made was a complete failure. This allowed me to cut perfect identical circles. It's easy to shim it to exactly 2" with adhesive labels placed one at a time inside the tube until a 2" eyepiece or 1.25" adapter is snug. Secondary mirror with spider holder Search on eBay for a matched set. A week after they said they would send the secondary and other parts, I called to ask if things had been sent. Other supplies that I bought for this project include wood, various bits of hardware, stain and finishing supplies, and a circle cutting jig for a router. Only problem is if I put a diagonal it wants to rotate the helical part. can't click on it or copy and paste it; it's a graphic file to thwart the interior diameter is just a nudge over 2". The core of the telescope, the steel mirror cell holds and adjusts the heavy, curved primary mirror. Un-real!!! Nice one. From everything I had read, I expected that getting a sonotube would be as easy as running to any hardware store and picking it up. love to hear from people who are interested in this focuser design. I did not glue the bearings to the tube box in case I needed to adjust the position later. The hole is made slightly larger than the shaft, this is normal. Did you make this project? I think I got what I wanted and seems best solution for me. After the pieces were glued together, I used a belt sander to smooth out any rough edges, being careful to keep both rocker sides and both side bearings exactly the same. Stellafane The Focuser I used a hole saw to cut a wooden plug to fit inside the The arc at the top of the sides needed to have a radius 1/8 inch larger than that of the side bearings to account for the thickness of the teflon pads that would fit between. Earthbound1 likes this #2 dave brock Mercury-Atlas The scope including the optics, truss tubes, and eye pieces all stored in a single box making it easy to store and transport by car, but it was a little too big to fit in the overhead compartment or under the seat on most aircraft. For my project I needed a 14 inch diameter, and I had a tough time finding one. The cell from Anttler's, for which I had received a refund, had arrived. I plan to use an FTA over it in case an extension is needed. Coupler for NEMA-17 Stepper Motor (also two choices, see below), LM7808 Voltage Regulator with TO-220 package -, Mini On/Off 3-pin 2-position slide switch -, Headers and wire (miscellaneous sizes and gauges), these are important so you can replace the component if it is damaged, LM7808 voltage regulator w/TO-220 heat sink package, 2-pin headers for 12V power and on/off switch. We all know the problems with focusing. spambots that search the internet for addresses to send junk mail to.) And the legs of the base should be as wide as possible to accommodate weight imbalance as the telescope is moved around, to avoid tipping. Line the underside of the rocker box with a ring of ABS plastic to allow it to ride on the base. I also wanted to strengthen and protect the cardboard tube. Nice looking telescope. 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. Edited by Pierre Lemay, 25 May 2020 - 08:10 AM. They even offered to send the spider, secondary holder, and secondary mirror immediately so that I could begin working on the tube while I waited for the primary. Crayford-style design with four bearings and one driveshaft. It interfaces to the computer via USB and comes with an ASCOM driver. I had nearly completed the base and put things together for the first time. I will post the pic of final focuser once ready. The plastic will ride on teflon pads, creating just enough traction for the telescope to avoid sliding on its own while not making it too difficult to point at things in the sky. I'm only hoping to supplement it a bit with some info and pictures aimed at those with limited skills (such as myself) :-) I'm not an electrical engineer, I'm more of a software guy with some limited knowledge of electronics and basic soldering and assembly skills. You will have to line up the diagonal and primary so that you see a centered image of the sonotube opening and the spyder in the eyepiece hole. More commercial crayford focusers are of a more enclosed form, whereas mine is more "open frame" approach. Part numbers 351-4574 and 336-422. To test the concept I used a short piece of two inch PVC for the draw tube. After researching several possible sources for a primary mirror, I decided to order an f/5 12.5 inch mirror from Discovery Optics. Share it with us! Meade Zero Image-Shift Electronic Micro-Focuser This high precision focuser allows you to obtain an extremely accurate image focus. Pioneered by John Dobson in the 1960s, the instrument combines a Newtonian reflector telescope with a unique two-axis movable base. They use a simple plywood mirror cell, stating that for an 8 inch mirror this cell will be adequate. the tube is cardboard as well, you can also get a quality mirror at telescope.com for much cheaper. Gift the gift of Make: Magazine this holiday season! Knitting needles are Staples or finishing nails work fine, but be sure they dont bump up above the surface of the plastic. So, am curious to see what others have designed and built and proud to show off here on the homage to Crayford thread. So, as they say, "back to the drawing board". 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. 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. 10 inch or 12 inch. With Simple | Space The premier publication of maker projects, skill-building tutorials, in-depth reviews, and inspirational stories, Reply I found a used 16 primary on eBay. The cutting diagram in (figure 1) shows how I cut the required pieces from two 60 X 60 pieces of Baltic Birch plywood, one inch thick, and one 5/8. Let me see if I am able to collect all the parts needed. You reach a point where the picture doesn't seem to change much, so you never know where the very sweetest spot in the focus is. The Focuser and other items: (Scope Stuff). To get this arc, I actually moved the radius of the jig, At some point in the building process, my goal became to finish the scope by RocheStar Fest, an annual event of the. Tom's Homemade Telescope Page - Udder Nonsense - Google The specific hardware used for this is described on the Building page. The next day, I called back to ask their opinion about the kind of spider and secondary holder to order. I had some carboy caps that make good knobs. Similar photos at http://www.telescopegeek.com/gallery.htm require 100+ minute exposure times on his 20" telescope and $3200 camera. I phoned in the order in the last week of February and was told that it would take about 4 weeks to deliver the mirror. I told them I was on my way. The version number "312" here may change if Robert posts new firmware. It took yet another call a week later for the items to actually be mailed. This is the mirror box for my 16", with Jim doing a bit of cleanup sanding. And for those who like to work with 3D printers, both the single speed and dual-speed versions could easily be printed. Here are a few photos of the "bracket", which is a simple 3D printed plate that mounts to the telescope's focuser ring, and serves as a mount for the stepper motor. 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). Upload that main sketch to the Nano. I had chosen a boxy, rigid design for the binocular scope, so DIY focuser design - ATM, Optics and DIY Forum - Cloudy Nights Here's my 8" f/6 travel scope with a 2" PVC draw tube and the helical Crayford focuser built right in the focuser board. I have no idea how much mail this idea will generate, so I can't focuser. ill ask him for a detailed list of what he used and when i get that ill post it here for you. As it turned out, the mirror cell was too large to fit into my 14 inch sonotube. Place the focuser, draw the position of the screws with a pencil and remove the focuser. If you wanted to really go low-profile with this design, Look down through the empty focuser. As I understand, you are using it for a refractor. forces the knitting needle against the drawtube and the drawtube against After you've done that, put a couple of tiny pan-head screws Thicker knitting needles would be even Depending on your telescope, one of the Brackets that Robert has may work for you. I first tried my 32mm plossl eyepiece. For complete instructions on building a telescope such as this one, I strongly recommend buying a copy of The Dobsonian Telescope by David Kriege and Richard Berry. Did you make this project? I started with a spacer that with a inch outer diameter. I had some carboy caps that make good knobs. This motor is available on Amazon. knob, and a drill press to make sure the hole for the knitting needle Step 3The Side Bearings and Rocker Sides. The base of the telescope should be a wide, sturdy square or circle of wood with teflon bearing pads matched to the ABS plastic ring of the rocker box. In the "ARDUINO FIRMWARE" folder, in it you will find a ZIP file "myFP2-Firmware 312-1.zip". A week after they said they would send the secondary and other parts, I called to ask if things had been sent. Perfect for visual observations with very heavy mirrors. I particularly like that the design can be integrated directly into the focuser board to make a very, very simple UTA. 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 did find, though, that the 3D printed gear would slip on the shaft, so it needed a set screw. I call shenanigans on every picture in this post except for the the moon. Quick demo of my motorized focuser, and I will create a detailed tutorial if enough people are interested. The box should be deep enough to allow the mirror box to swing all the way down. Thanks Pinbout for sharing your design. I did run into a small problem with the focuser. If you want a Crayford focuser with a knob instead of turning the draw tube, then Jerry Oltion's designhttp://www.jerryoltixycrayfords.htm using box frames and knitting needle drive shafts is also a fairly easy build. So I decided to make my own, using my normal "blunder in naively and see what happens" approach to making things. Low, or Zero slop when changing direction. Among amateur telescopes, the most common are focusers with landing diameters of 1.25 ", 2", rarely 0.965 ", and even less often - 3". really stiff and light for their size, and even though a #2 is pretty 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. There are a number of technical reasons why these photographs could not have come from this Optical Tube Assembly. My first telescope I built was a 10" F8. needle to be just a little too flexible for the weight of a diagonal and Actually getting the parts into my hands turned out to be more of a challenge than I would have expected, but in the end, I have a wonderful telescope that I enjoy very much. Once the pieces were cut and I held them around the tube, I decided to cut them a bit smaller because the extra space was too much. Finally it was etched in caustic soda, and anodised matt black. (actually, it ended up a smidge more than 2 inches). Made of plywood, the rocker box supports the mirror box on 1 teflon pads, allowing it to rotate vertically. Download the Gerber Files. After picking up a copy of The Dobsonian Telescope by David Kriege, I built my first telescope with a 12-diameter mirror, then later tackled a 12 lightweight scope. It turns out that sonotubes are a stock item in 8 inch, 10 inch, 12 inch, and sometimes even 16 inch diameters. and hope it doesn't fall off Contact cement is permanent, so the only solution would be to replace the tube! Building Your Second Homemade Telescope - Part 1 - HubPages The mirror box encloses the mirror cell and allows the entire telescope to rotate vertically. Using plywood, make 4 attachment blocks to pair the trusses together and create a small ledge for the secondary cage to rest on while you secure it. The diameter of the focuser is usually indicated in inches. 10 years ago 11 years ago A few months later I ordered some other things from Scopestuff, including strips of Ebony Star laminate for the side bearings, a ring of Ebony Star for the rocker bottom, a strip of teflon to cut pieces for the ground board and side bearings, and a new base for my Telrad finder. until a 2" eyepiece or 1.25" adapter is snug. We then spread contact cement over the remaining veneer and tube surface, waited for the glue to dry, and carefully rolled the tube over the veneer. The day I received the refund, I ordered a mirror cell from University Optics. I will get good 30-40 mm focusing range. That's pretty much the focuser. I really had to, since the underside of my telescope's focuser is all curves, no flat area for attaching the mounting bracket. Like i said these are not my photos and i cannot coment on exactly how he set it up as i was not there all i can say is i saw the mount he used when he picked up the telescope. I had cut the 12 foot tube in half in order to get it home in the first place, and a 6 foot section was the right size to work with for my f/5 12.5 inch. Read the documentation though, there are a lot of functions and options. Some of these are essential for the basic functionalities of our websites. A Beginner's Guide to Collimation - Gary Seronik 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. My DIY Motorized Telescope Focuser - YouTube I got a different stain, tested it, and went back to work. 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! Focuser minimum height is 50 mm and maximum a little over 90 mm so it is good overall.

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