All Aluminum16" Truss Scope

Back in January 1998, while I was surfing the web for a telescope I did a search for commercial telescopes, one sight caught my eye. "Mel Bartels ATM Page" amateur telescope making became a bookmark that day and the obsession has never quit. After one year of research and surfing the internet the project started.

Here are some of pics of the scope after 3 years on and off of the project.  Every year in the spring, a new home project has taken place.  In the spring of 2001 there was an addition of an arbor and the painting of the interior of the house.  Spring of 2002 was the finishing of a play room for the kids in the basement.  While I was at it, I also made a great work shop for myself.  

All of the ideas have been taken off of the internet and modified to create the scope, some ideas were from other amateur telescope makers.

Focal Length

 71.125"
Mirror Diameter 16"
Mirror Thickness .900"
Construction Material  6061 Aluminum
ROC 142.25"
Strehl Ratio 937

 

Here is my big helper on the project, my son Aaron.  When there are holes to be drilled he sure comes in handy.  On the left he is fastening parts to the base of the scope.

 

Here are some of the components in the early stages.  The rocker box and the upper ring.  The ring is a single piece of aluminum with spring steel for the spider.  The altitude bearings are constructed from two pieces of .080" aluminum with a layer of  7/16" plywood sandwiched in between.

 

Here is my daughter and me with the completed rough draft mount.  You will see that the base was beefed up and the trusses have to be cut for the final measurement. More machining and design for the mechanical movements has to be completed.