TIL Bahtinov Mask
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahtinov_mask
That’s a clever device for focusing a small scope.
Great build, but I can't find the README and what is the recommendation if it's not PLA? PETG? (I will give this a try with PLA-CF...)
I 3d printed the 114 hadley telescope years back.
Saturn and Jupiter were easy, but not super clear. Mars was maybe just out of reach even on good nights.
This 6 inch will likely be perfect. Very clever design as well!
It'd be great to hike with one; I've heard a some of the Appalachian Mountain Club huts have telescopes.
On the subject of viewing targets, I unexpectedly found Globular Clusters to be really neat. As your eyes adjust, the stars just keep multiplying. And you can easily catch great looking photos.
Seems very cool but all of the photos and videos I could find is about how to build it not the most important thing.. how good it is as an actual telescope how does the moon/stars etc look though it
Slightly OT: how fragile are 3D printed things? Do they break easily? Do they feel fragile? The rods in thi design, might a person break them by accident? How about intentionally?
I’ve just been looking for a telescope that’s backpackable. Thank you for posting this!
Is there some more info? What else do you need, other than a spool of not-PLA? How much does it cost? Where can you source the other materials?
Why four sets of support struts?
Hello HN,
A friend released files for this 6" f/5 telescope conversion kit yesterday.
It is a synthesis of a lot of telescope builds he, I and a few friends made over the last years, as well as general ideas floating in the amateur telescope making community.
It is compatible with most existing 6" f/5 newtonian optics kits. I've tried his model IRL and was pleased with both the movements and the focuser, which is often lacking on commercial offerings (which are also heavier and bulkier).
Unmounted, it forms a quite compact package to hike with or take camping.
It is licensed under CC-BY-NC-SA as he would like to sell parts kit at some point, but the files found on Printables are fully functional.