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Modifed Newtonian for astrophotography, Mike Hamende

Modifed Newtonian for astrophotography

Modifed Newtonian for astrophotography, Mike Hamende

Modifed Newtonian for astrophotography

Description

I know some of you like gear photos and I certainly do as well.  Here are a few pictures of my 6 year old newtonian that I've recently converted for AP and few other examples of how 3D printing and DIY electronics can be used for astronomy.  A few things you may be able to see in the photos:

* Tube rings:  3D printed tube rings for mounting guide cameras and autofocuser motors.  So long as you are able to tension the rings well and keep the guidescope's standoff distance low they are very rigid.  Some of the tube rings have embedded M4 or 4-40 nuts to allow mounting around the circumference.

* Shaft couplers:  I needed a coupler for the newtonian that could handle a small amount of angular and axial misalignment, A simple spider type coupler took about 20 minutes to design and another 20 minutes to print.

* Spacers, standoffs and kickstands: Simple clips for the newtonian mirror cell to lift the bottom off the ground to prevent crushing the cable going to the cooling fan.
-Solid blocks and caps for the extruded aluminum handle on the top of the Newt.
-Small kickstand on the newtonian dovetail to allow me to set the telescope on its side without resting on the camera.

* Stepper motor mounts:  I was able to repurpose the mounting holes for a finder shoe to make a mount for a stepper motor for autofocus of the AT102EDL.

* Gears and timing pulleys:  Autofocus for camera lenses and helical focusers like the FMA180 can be tricky.  Because of the relatively low forces involved it is possible to make relatively wide faced gears to allow the helical mounted gear to slide axially along the stepper mounted gear. 
-I did not like how the standard solution for the RASA autofocuser, it had the entire assembly sticking out about 6 inches from the rear of the scope.  An hour of so of measurements and CAD and I was able to make a right angled EAF mount with bevel gears that only sticks out about 2 inches. 
-I use cheap timing belts and resin printed timing pulleys for my 60mm and 102mm refractors. 

* MyFocuserPro2: On every scope but the RASA you'll notice small rectangular boxes. Inside is an arduino Nano and an A4988 stepper motor driver.  About $5 of electronics and a $12 Nema 14 stepper motor make a complete autofocus solution.  All thanks to the open source MyFocuserPro2 project.  I've also incorporated a 12v rail on 0.1" pin headers into each box to power accessories such as fans and dew heaters.

* Dew heaters:  Nichrome wire can be bought on amazon or from vape shops, I find it is best to buy the highest resistance per inch you can find. My typical process is to provide 1 watt of heat for every inch of aperture.  Calculate the resistance required and then using a multimeter determine the length of nichrome needed to provide that resistance.  I'll then lay down a two inch wide piece of kapton tape sticky side up with a length slightly longer than the circumference I'm building for and lay the nichrome down in a serpentine pattern.  I use small ferrules to crimp the nichrome to the power supply wires and then sandwich the assemby with another piece of kapton, Then fold and sandwich in a piece of aluminum duct sealing tape.  I use coban self adhering bandage to secure the heater to the telescope.  Even easier you can use 1/4 watt parallel resistance ladders to make heaters for guidescopes or secondaries. You can get about 1/3 watt of heat from a 470 ohm resistor at 12v.  The important thing is to insulate exposed electrical connections with kapton then cover with aluminum tape to help distribute the heat evenly.

There are countless other things I've made such as dew shields, cable management, power distribution enclosures, DIN mounts, secondary mounting jigs, sight tube for collimation, all sky camera enclosures, dovetail clamps, PC to tripod leg mounts. I've even printed a small tripod using electrical conduit as legs for my 90mm Maksutov.

Looks like this post has turned into an endorsement of 3D printing more-so than showing a new scope.  If you see any parts that you'd like to print for yourself just let me know and I'll make the files available to you.

Comments

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Description: the kickstand in action

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C

Description: lot's of 3D printed accessories

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D

Description: I had a massive issue with off center illumination, sight tubes are $100 dollars or more. literally 5 minutes to design and an overnight print and now my illumination is dead center.

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Description: Right angle EAF mount, losmandy dovetail mounting fixture and power distribution block.

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Description: 3D printed primary mirror aperture mask getting painted with black 2.0

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Modifed Newtonian for astrophotography, Mike Hamende