My first newtonian project

[glnn_23]

After owning a few nice refractors and wanting more aperture I thought I would share my first reflector that I'm trying to put together.

I'm using a 400mm tube fabricated by Gary Mitchell. It's in 3 sections so I can transport it easily in the car. Thought I may as well go over size on the mirror to side wall clearance. Protostar flockboard held in with velcro for stray light suppression and insulation.

The 12.5" f/5.8 Mark Suchting primary mirror is held in a Novak cell and the secondary is a 2.14 quartz Protostar in an Astrosystems holder.

The spider is a curved vane 3X60 degree .75mm stainless 'Ed Grissom' copy I fabricated using a Destiny hub.

For cooling I have 3X120mm fans on a 6mm perspex plate.

Today after after a bit of mucking around with tube length dimensions I finally have all my eps come to focus.
The czj eps have so much in focus compared to pentax xws and especially the pan 27.

All I need now is a dob base so will contact Alex again soon from here on IIS.

Glenn

[Kunama]

Very impressive bit of kit Glenn!

[GrahamL]

Looks great Glenn:thumbsup:

[mental4astro]

Gonna paint it fire-engine red?

Dead set ringer for Hubble! Hmmm, attach a couple of solar panels to the alt bearings, & you won't be able to tell the difference, ;). I also know of a couple of parks here in Sydney's eastern suburbs where you'll get ASIO called on ya if you take it there! It's happened to me! Wanna stir a hornets nest???

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=58680&page=2

Looking forward to your PM, Glen.

[glnn_23]

Started this project a while back now and never got around to finishing the mount.

Got some 16" Parallax Instruments rings and I am extremely happy with the quality of them.

Not sure if it's a good idea but have some circular 450 x 39mm Al plate for alt bearings and am looking at getting water jet cutting and machining to remove what I don't need.

Simple way is to bolt the rings straight to the bearings but it gives me only 330mm or so between them so might need to use a longer plate between the rings and bolt bearings to that.

[thomqos]

Very nice..

I'm considering splurging on a set of the Parallax rotating rings for my 10" rebuild so I can finally mount it on my G-11. They're expensive, but the only way I'd consider equatorially mounting a newtonian for visual use.
I got a set of rings from him last year for my Tak. TSA120... agreed, they're very good.
And Joe Nastasi is certainly always very helpful.

[Rick Parrott]

A thing of beauty and practicality!