8" CF tube

[multiweb]

Anyone know where to source some 200mm/8" CF tube in Oz? Or anything close to this. TIA. :thumbsup:

[whzzz28]

Newtonian?
Most of the major players sell them
http://www.bintel.com.au/Telescopes/OTA/Bintel-BT200-f/4-Carbon-Fibre-Astrograph/1439/productview.aspx
http://astroshop.com.au/products/details.asp?id=MAS-069D
http://andrewscom.com.au/site-content-section-10-skywatcher.htm
http://andrewscom.com.au/site-content-section-10-guansheng.htm

[Peter.M]

I think you will be lucky to get a tube by itself from any of those vendors, and unfortunately the price of the whole assembly from bintel will likely be less than a custom tube from the states. You could make your own, its not terribly difficult. The hardest part would be getting a mandrel with the exact size you need to use all of your components (mirror cell and spider)

[rustigsmed]

http://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p5765_Carbon-Tube-Upgrade-for-200mm---8--F5-GSO-Newtonian-Telescopes.html
Germany, price wise though you'd probably better off getting the whole shebang, with mirrors etc in Oz.

[tlgerdes]

Don't know whether this helps, but if you can get it shipped within the USA, I am in Palo Alto in 3 weeks and can bring it home for you.

[multiweb]

I can find about any size but 8". Unbelievable. :lol:

[tlgerdes]

Remember your mirror is 8", your tube will be about 9-9.5" diameter.

[peter_4059]

Marc,

I assume you already know about this one in the US:

http://www.carbonscopetubes.com/

[LewisM]

I got a complete tube, pre-drilled, for an 8" R200SS out of Germany for $495. Quality was incredible. Klaus does a VERY fine job.

[multiweb]

Yep. I've measure the front aperture to jam the 8" tube in or I might go over and get soemthing a little bigger depending on what sizes are available. Have you modded your 8" yet? ;)


Yeah I emailed Frank. Waiting on his answer. They have 7.5" offcuts but then jump up to 10" and over. Nothing aroundthe 200mm ball park.


That's a lot of dow for an 8" tube. :eyepop: I got my C11 cut outs for half that price.

[LewisM]

Frank quoted me a price that was INSANE, since he said it would be a custom job.

Ask Peter.M - he made his own.

[tlgerdes]

I'm waiting to see how much better you can make yours. Would rather learn from your mistakes :P

[tlgerdes]

Not going to the USA now, so am withdrawing my offer

[multiweb]

Well it's done now (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showpost.php?p=1029152&postcount=18). You can go ahead :P

1_ New stiffer spider vanes. (the original vanes were too thin and didn't hold the weight of the secondary)

2_ Get rid of all those big silly knobs, redrill the locks closer to the collimation ones and counter sink the heads. Don't worry about the springs. They're irrelevant once the thing is collimated and locked. I haven't touched my collimation in weeks now. Hasn't moved a iota.

3_ Change the clip system to what I did to hold the primary in place.