Building my own Newtonian Telescope - progress report

Well the project has finally started, I've bitten the bullet and am in
the process of constructing a 4.5 inch DObsonian Telescope.

So far I've learnt more about carpentry that anything else, but so far
its been excellent fun. I'd totally recommend it as an alternative to
spending £150 odd quid on a starter scope.

I'm currently finishing off the main tube, and shortly will start on
the base, and will be installing the optics soon once they arrive.

The mirror is a 4.5 TAL one, the focuser a helical one, the eyepiece
is as yet unpurchased, but will be a 32mm plossl of some description
or another.

My lunch times will now be spent trawling junk shops for bits to
construct the base (specifically any dodgy 12" LP), I need to order
the teflon, choose something for the bearings (I've got my eye on
chopping up an old plastic chopping board).

I'll post some in progress pics once the current glue stained, wobbly
three sided box firms up into a nicely sanded and varnished, first
timer Dob.

All the best

And for those who say it can't be done or takes too much time...
http://fullmoon.telescopebuilding.com/mortimer.htm

;-)

Chuck Taylor
Do you observe the moon?
Try the Lunar Observing Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lunar-observing/
Lunar Picture of the Day http://www.lpod.org/
************************************

"Dr DNA" wrote in message
...
Well the project has finally started, I've bitten the bullet and am in
the process of constructing a 4.5 inch DObsonian Telescope.

So far I've learnt more about carpentry that anything else, but so far
its been excellent fun. I'd totally recommend it as an alternative to
spending £150 odd quid on a starter scope.

I'm currently finishing off the main tube, and shortly will start on
the base, and will be installing the optics soon once they arrive.

The mirror is a 4.5 TAL one, the focuser a helical one, the eyepiece
is as yet unpurchased, but will be a 32mm plossl of some description
or another.

My lunch times will now be spent trawling junk shops for bits to
construct the base (specifically any dodgy 12" LP), I need to order
the teflon, choose something for the bearings (I've got my eye on
chopping up an old plastic chopping board).

I'll post some in progress pics once the current glue stained, wobbly
three sided box firms up into a nicely sanded and varnished, first
timer Dob.

All the best

I'm currently finishing off the main tube, and shortly will start on
the base, and will be installing the optics soon once they arrive.

Have you tried playing with "Newt" to tune up your design ?
there's a link from my pages at --
http://mysite.freeserve.com/jc_atm/
You'll also fing "Plop" for sorting your cell (if you need one).
jc

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Dr DNA wrote:
Well the project has finally started, I've bitten the bullet and am in
the process of constructing a 4.5 inch DObsonian Telescope.

See:
http://astunit.com/tonkinsastro/atm/beginner.htm


Best,
Stephen

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NO I hadn;t, but I have now. I think it will come in very useful when
I get around to installing the optics etc.

On Tue, 16 Mar 2004 07:40:32 -0000, "John Carruthers"
wrote:

I'm currently finishing off the main tube, and shortly will start on
the base, and will be installing the optics soon once they arrive.

Have you tried playing with "Newt" to tune up your design ?
there's a link from my pages at --
http://mysite.freeserve.com/jc_atm/
You'll also fing "Plop" for sorting your cell (if you need one).
jc

Kaspersky Anti-Virus Mail Checker

On Tue, 16 Mar 2004 19:19:53 +0000, Dr DNA wrote:

NO I hadn;t, but I have now. I think it will come in very useful when
I get around to installing the optics etc.

Good luck with your project. It's nice to see somebody trying some
tactile skills beyond tapping the keyboard [only joking folks!].
Fortunately telescopes are usually too large and clumsy to be
classified as male jewellery! As long as they hold the optics
correctly and are convenient to use they don't need to be beautiful as
most rarely get a public airing.

When you've finished your project [and not before!] you may care to
look at a telescope made from plastic plumbing fittings, ali sections
and tube [from B&Q etc] at

http://home.freeuk.com/m.gavin/hhscope.htm

These materials, like ply, are easy to work with hand tools.

An update

The main tube is now made, and is currently drying out, after a double
coat of non-reflective blackboard paint inside.

Optics arrive tomorrow - then the tricky part !

Today I screwed in the spider and secondary, attached the focuser to
the side of the tube, used NEWT to calculate the exact position of the
primary, roughly put the primary in place (no screws or anything,
collimated using a teatowel as padding, dropped in the 32mm plossl I
bought today, pointed it out of the double glazing (I know, but we are
talking initial mock up test here), and blooming ida, if I didn't see
a load of perfectly in focus stars.

Major adrenalin hit.

Wow !

Now a lot of fine tuning and proper alignment etc, but at least I know
I'm on the right route and all my calculations and measurements are
right.

Amazing !

"Dr DNA" wrote in message
news
Today I screwed in the spider and secondary, attached the focuser to
the side of the tube, used NEWT to calculate the exact position of the
primary, roughly put the primary in place (no screws or anything,
collimated using a teatowel as padding, dropped in the 32mm plossl I
bought today, pointed it out of the double glazing (I know, but we are
talking initial mock up test here), and blooming ida, if I didn't see
a load of perfectly in focus stars.

Major adrenalin hit.

Wow !

Now a lot of fine tuning and proper alignment etc, but at least I know
I'm on the right route and all my calculations and measurements are
right.

Amazing !

Great! Once you get the mount finished, what will you select for first
light?

Clear Skies

Chuck Taylor
Do you observe the moon?
Try the Lunar Observing Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lunar-observing/
Lunar Picture of the Day http://www.lpod.org/
************************************

"Dr DNA" wrote in message
news
Today I screwed in the spider and secondary, attached the focuser to
the side of the tube, used NEWT to calculate the exact position of the
primary, roughly put the primary in place (no screws or anything,
collimated using a teatowel as padding, dropped in the 32mm plossl I
bought today, pointed it out of the double glazing (I know, but we are
talking initial mock up test here), and blooming ida, if I didn't see
a load of perfectly in focus stars.

Major adrenalin hit.

Wow !

Now a lot of fine tuning and proper alignment etc, but at least I know
I'm on the right route and all my calculations and measurements are
right.

Amazing !

Congratulations chap! Pretty soon we will be seeing a picture online of you
stood next to your latest 32" Strutty Dob! ;o)
I never caught the ATM bug but knowing someone who did I'm guessing that
you're already checking out (could've said "scoping out", but that'd be
cheap and cheesy) larger projects, even if just in the back of your mind.

Cheers,
Jim
"Look, just one more 12" Dob mate. I can stop anytime I want. I'm okay.
*shiver* Just one more."