Carbon Fibre Telescope Tubes.

[Tandum]

Does anyone know of someone on Oz who can supply one of these tubes. I'm looking at swapping out the 10" Newt Tube for fibre. I've found this mob in china (http://langdicfrp.en.alibaba.com/product/247100566-200217740/carbon_fiber_telescope_tube.html)an d have sent them a query, but can I get one in Oz?

[gbeal]

Hi Robin,
I built one a few years ago, and it got coerced across the ditch by a Dunkeld guy. I am onto another one, coincidentally for my 10" f5 newt, so let me get this from the guy doing it and see what it is like before I rave on about it.
Shipping will be a killer though, 300mm round, and 1250 or so long, weighing about 2 kilos,
Gary

[Tandum]

Gary, I heard back from china already. They said they'd quote for the tube and shipping on Monday :)

[AlexN]

You could try Public Missiles in the USA.. They do CF tubes for a lot of SCT's I'm sure if you contacted them and said you wanted one for a newt that they would do it. Shipping would be a killer though.. NZ might be a better option.

[gbeal]

Robin.
It will be interesting to see what the cost is from your enquiry. I made an enquiry there many months ago and it was quite expensive. Nice work, but expensive.
Public Missiles were the same, stunning tubes, but prohibitively priced, plus the shipping angle took it's toll and I went DIY.
Gary

[Tandum]

I can't find anyone in Oz that makes them, all I can find are resellers and calculating an upsize from the prices they have listed on line puts it up around $800 for the tube alone. DIY is out for me, don't have the know how. I've just had a payment request for something else I've ordered so there's not a lot of funds left to squander either :(

[Waxing_Gibbous]

Robin,
There's an Australian mob that make super-high quality CF tubes for the Oil & Gas industry. Before anyone starts groaning :D, they are MUCH better by any measure, than anything commercially available for telescopes. I doubt they would be particularly cheap, but they produce tubes in standard sizes that should be adaptable to your purposes.
I SHOULD have their name directly to hand, but its lost in my other PC somewhere.
Will PM you their details if interested.

[Tandum]

Sure Pete, why not. The savings in post might outweigh the extra cost.
It's good to know someone has the tools to make them here rather than just import from china and resell.
I believe real ones need to go into an autoclave to presure cure the resin.

[Wavytone]

Peter, if you find it I'd suggest adding it to the sticky Astonomical equipment manufacturers list, I'm sure others might find it useful.

[Tandum]

China came back with US$428 for the tube, US$440 for the mould + shipping :rolleyes:

I've asked if they have a standard size that don't need a mould. She told me yesterday they sell these things to the US so maybe they have a mould that's close enough :)

[AlexN]

Sounds about right Robin.. CF tube itself isnt horribly expensive, but try to ship it somewhere (despite its low weight) the shipping cost gets calculated by the items cubed dead weight rather than actual weight, and before you know it, a $550 CF tube becomes a $1150 Golden monument.

[Tandum]

She's talking US$200 shipping via fedex but there is an air option to the airport only yet to be priced.

[gbeal]

If you c an do a tube that works for US$428 plus shipping I reckon you are onto it. The mold is the killer. I don't think shipping will be THAT much, but as Alex says, it determined by "Dim Weight" that is size, not weight.
Gary

[AlexN]

Agreed - if its going to work, and is $428 USD. go for it...

I just rechecked the PublicMissiles adds on Astromart before, they have dropped considerably in price since I had my C11.. Down to 285 for a C11 tube.. They do say they do custom sized tubes on request.. It might be worth asking them how much for your tube..

[Tandum]

One of these (http://www.fpi-protostar.com/blite.htm) would be about US$350 shipped and pre flocked, so there's the competition.

She has a mould near 300 ID, it's 298.xx mm :)

[M_Lewis]

Making a CF tube isnt hard at all. Just get some CF matting, epoxy, a C&C foam cutting machine to do the exact size you want for the tube, and a vac machine, with the appropriate release agents to get the silky smooth glossy finish when you vac set it.

I've made many RC-glider wings over the years out of CF, kevlar and fibreglass this way and it's unfortunately time consuming. At those prices you got above, it's really a bargain, as the CF matt is not cheap, and the time involved setting up and laying up all the glass, I fail to see where they are making any profit.

[gbeal]

And that is the sort of approach I have taken.
I have stripped the outer layers from an old sonotube, and have a layer of C/F on the outside. Each layer of C/F (dry) will end up being "about" 1.2 kilos, so it is still way lighter than the Protostar version, but it is an excellent option as the C/F on the exterior of the tube will add to the stiffness, and resilience.
Gary

[Tandum]

Thanks for the input guys but I don't have the space nor facilities to make such a large tube here. Hell, I have trouble finding somewhere to put this one. I've asked her to quote on a tube using the mould she has (298.xx mm ID), using 6k 2x2 twill weave 30% resin, 2mm thick and the cheapest shipping :) She quoted weight at 3.78Kg earlier.

I think the mould fee was just going to be a xmas bonus for them :)

[Tandum]

Final word on this if you where reading.
China was too expensive, the 298mm mould they had was only 1050 long so the final price from them came in at :
Tube: USD428.05/pcs
Mould fee:USD440.52
Shipping:USD205.58
Amount:USD1074.15

I also contacted protostar and was told they do not ship lengths over 36" off shore anymore :(

[koputai]

Grumble mutter bloody carbon fibre mumble grumble......
I busted a 2ft x 2in x 1/2in carbon spreader on the boat the other day, luckily there was a spare in the country. 800 bucks later....grumble carbon fibre mutter grumble.......

Sure it's pretty stuff, but surely there are better/more economical materials to make scope tubes from?

Cheers,
Jason.

[taminga16]

Robin,

Find a Boat Builder along the river somewhere, I am sure that they would build one for you.

Greg.

[koputai]

So would the McLaren F1 team, and they probably charge about the same!

Cheers,
Jason.

[Tandum]

The idea was to drop the weight on the 10" newt not build a new scope. In retrospect it's probably a wiser move to put those pennies in the bigger mount moneybox :)

[klaushelmi]

Hello,

I build carbon fiber tubes with and without core. I can build the tube with a aramid honeycomb or with a hard foam core.
The hard foam core is the stiffest, the honeycomb ist the lightest.
For example will cost a 300/1200mm tube with 9mm wall and hard foam core and vanish/polished carbon fiber surface about 350 Euro. Shipping cost if the tube is 1200mm or shorter for about 60 Euro. Weight of the tube is about 4 Kg. With a aramid honeycomb and a 8mm wall the tube will weight 2,5 kg and cost about 500 euro.
Of course i can build all other diameters and length, but i didn´t found a shipping method for tubes longer than 1200mm, or no cheap shipping.

http://www.klaushelmi.de/carbon2.jpghttp://www.klaushelmi.de/carbo2.jpg

http://klaushelmi.de/GSO3.JPG

some more pictures you can see wenn you google klaushelmi or www.klaushelmi.de (http://www.klaushelmi.de)

mail: info@klaushelmi.de

Greetings Klaus

[Waxing_Gibbous]

Ah!
Hi Klaus. I've recommended you to a couple of people.
Hopefully, by June, all my farm expenses will have calmed down and I can order (and possibly even pay for, :D )one of your tubes.
Peter

[mswhin63]

you can try this mob see if they can do something http://www.alibaba.com/product-free/113495320/Carbon_Fibre_Tubing.html

[Waxing_Gibbous]

I tried them and they don't seem to manufacture tubes in anything like telescope size.
There is however a company in NZ that will make tubes sutable for a 10" scope IF it can get something like a dozen orders (I think).
They have to order a mandrel specifically for them and specs need to be decided.
I'm really gung-ho about getting a CF tube as just about all metal 10"+ scopes are too heavy for my mount.

[M_Lewis]

I also know of a local business here in Brissy who have a purpose built carbon fibre weaving machine for making rocket tubes. These tubes are super tough. Contact me if you want their details.

[MrB]

From CST Composites website (http://www.cstcomposites.com/2_5_mm_wall.htm):
"We can wind tubes up to 800mm diameter with any wall thickness."

Seems it would get pricey though. They list prices per metre for standard tubing.
150mm tube, 2.5mm wall is $535 plus gst

[garymck]

This place:

http://www.solarcomposites.com/composites/carbon%20fiber%20sleeves.html

has stretchable carbon fibre sleeves that can be slid over a tube and epoxied in place, price is reasonable. Much easier way to make a tube.
Hope this helps,
cheers Gary

[stevous67]

Hi all,

Just bringing back to life this thread, wondering if anyone has a reliable connection for carbon tubes. Thanks for any new leads.

Cheers,

Steve

[alistairsam]

hi Steve,

not a new lead, but thought i'd share my experience with Kaus's CF tube.

I just retrofitted a Carbon Fibre Foam Core tube for my 10inch Mirrors and has been the best investment I've made.
I got the tube from Klaus in Germany as mentioned.

The tube is 7.5mm thick as its a foam core which is what is recommended for AP.
Its extremely rigid and strong enough to hold the entire weight without tube rings. so I got Celestron Dovetail and screwed it on and it holds the weight with no issues.
can't recommend it enough.
one more major advantage i've found is that the foam core acts as an insulation meaning I've never had to turn on my secondary dew heater in a recently wet night at heathcote and other dripping wet nights.
Another member had a skywatcher CF tube next to me and it was dripping wet inside.
btw, i have no affiliation with Klaus. just a very happy customer.

http://klaushelmi.de/en/

the 1m tube cost me around 260 euro landed, but you'll have to check prices with him.

Cheers
Alistair

[stevous67]

Thanks a lot Alistair! Klaus seems to be the CF tube man for us then. Thanks for the heads up on which to get - "foam core" I've written to him to see if he can help me. Hope he is still making them.

Josh, you PM'd me what am I doing [!], yep, I'm going to retrofit the Planewave to look like an RCOS, with a real CF tube.

Terry said I should just buy the RCOS 12" thats for sale on Astromart.

Steve

[stevous67]

That was very reasonable Alistair, I cant wait to here from him!

Thanks again,

Steve :thumbsup:

[Joss]

fwiw I have a large foam cored carbon fiber tube for sale. Its 2550L x 750D air duct so would suit a telescope from say 24" - 28". As it is 2nd hand and was trialled for use in underground mining it has some superficial blemishes, scratches and minor punctures, none of which compromise it structurally. With some TLC paid to repairing the blemishes and removing paint the tube is good enough to make a feature out of the CF by applying a clear finish, but for the best and quickest result I would just fill the blemishes and paint the tube in a colour.

If interested contact me via PM. I may even be able to deliver.

[Joshua Bunn]

Ooooohh... I will be keeping in contact with interest, good on ya and all the best with it mate!

[stevous67]

I have been trying to contact Klaus for a number of days now; I hope he is still manufacturing these?

All the references from his work are excellent.

Crossing fingers he is still in operation.

Steve :prey:

[LewisM]

I had Klaus make me an R200SS tube. Took him 2 weeks, and the end result was perfect.

All up cost was $500 or so, delivered.

[alistairsam]

I got mine done about 2months ago and he regularly does work for teleskop express, hopefully you should get a reply soon .

Cheers
Alistair

[DaveNZ]

I had a carbon tube made up for my GSO 10" f4. Landed in Dunedin NZ for under 1K NZ last week. That's including GST(15%) and freight from Germany.

http://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p5766_Carbon-Tube-Upgrade-for-250mm---10--F4-GSO-Newtonian-Telescopes.html

I had holes drilled for my Moonlite focuser and the focus position moved up the tube a bit so I didnt require an extension tube.

Dave

[stevous67]

Great, thanks for all the feedback everyone. I'll post how I go too.

Cheers,

Steve

[glend]

Bringing this thread back to life. I'd like to hear from some of the buyers of CF tubes from Klaus and TS (Teleskop-Express). I am contemplating building a 12" Imaging Newt using a 'donor' GSO newt to get the optics. I need to get the weight down to about 15-16kg so a CF tube or a custom CF Strut tube are the only options. I can build the CF Strut tube but like the idea of the TS tubes coming pre-drilled and bored for all the GSO accessories (less work). DaveNZ how did you go with yours? Others? :thanx:

[rustigsmed]

hi glen,

TS also sell pre assembled ones
http://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p5064_TS-12--F4-UNC-Newtonian-Telescope---optimized-focus-position---Carbon-tube.html
according to that the weight with rings (but no finderscope) is 16kg. I believe it uses the gso optics.
so it demonstrates that 16kg is doable :thumbsup:

[glend]

Russell, Yes I see I missed that. Thanks.

[Tony Leece]

I noticed this topic and thought anyone who is interested, heres a place that does CF tubes.
http://www.dreamscopes.com/pages/tubes-honeycomb.htm