All the photos for this project can be found here: https://photos.
In general, building this telescope has been an incredible experience. This was my first wood / metal project. I would highly recommend to make your own telescope if you can.
Here are some key features:
- mirror cell: based on Kriege's design using a Glatter sling cable for lateral support. This was designed using Plop software;
- mirrors: the primary is a Lightholder mirror with 1.5" thickness and coated by Spectrum Coatings in Florida. The secondary is a 3.5" Antares;
- UTA: the spider was installed with "+" orientation (as in John Pratte's design). The spider and secondary mirror holder are from Astrosystems. The secondary dew heater is also from Astrosystems. The focuser is Feathertouch FT2015BCR. I use two finders: an Antares VS60
- lower and upper truss attachments and connectors were made by me, based on the design of John Pratte and concepts in Highe's Portable Newtonian Telescope book;
- the mirror box is relatively shallow (11" deep). Joints are tongue and groove like in Teeter's design;
- the trunnions were designed after studying the beautiful 22" f4 dobsonian telescope designed by Friske on CN forum. There is some geometry regarding the upper curve and the cutoffs of my trunnions, but this is only due to my OCD, rather than added functionality;
- the rocker box is also quite shallow. I used doweling joints for this;
- light shroud was made by Heather Teeter
Other data:
- Metal was stainless steel 316 (also the
- Wood is Baltic birch plywood: 15mm for UTA, MB; 3x12mm for trunnions, 2x15mm for RB side boards, 15mm for RB front/back boards, 2x12mm for RB bottom board and ground board;
- UTA struts are 1" diam, 1.6mm thick;
- Trusses are 1" 1/8" diam, 1.6mm thick;
- FRP + 1/4" virgin teflon was used for both altitude and azimuth movements;
- Lower / upper truss attachments and connectors,
Thanks for looking
Piero