3D printed 'long' 1.25" eyepiece caps?

[MortonH]

I have some eyepieces & extension tubes that I like to keep accessories such as filters attached to. However, some of them are slightly narrower than 1.25" so the usual end caps don't stay on. I had an idea that a extended version of the usual 1.25" end cap would cover the accessory and be long enough to reach the eyepiece/tube and stay in place.

Does anyone with a 3D printer think this is doable?

[Saturn488]

Should be. Just need to custom design a cap in CAD and print it out.

Happy to help out if you like. I have a 3D printer which I use for many things I custom make myself.

[MortonH]

Cool, sent you a PM.

[GrahamL]

Is a vixen type rail losmandy (VUP4 for referance) hard to print ?

[Saturn488]

Assuming this one?

https://www.bintel.com.au/product/losmandy-vixen-universal-plate-4-inch/

Shouldn't be difficult to print. Since its a more complicated part its more designing it on CAD that will take the time.

[GrahamL]

yes. .. will send pm

[MortonH]

Thought I'd share some pics of the extra long (40mm) eyepiece caps that arrived today.

Case #1

I have a Lumicon 1.25" filter slider with a William Optics 2x Barlow nosepiece so I can achieve focus in my refractor. I want the Barlow to remain attached but it's narrower than 1.25" so normal caps just fall off. With the long eyepiece cap the problem is solved.

Case #2

For white light solar I use a Baader continuum filter and polarising filter stacked together and attached to a short extension tube. Again, they are slightly narrower than 1.25" so normal caps won't stay on. I'm now using the long eyepiece cap and no more problem!


Thanks to Stefan (Saturn488) for making these for me.

[Leo.G]

They look good MortonH



Yet another reason to consider a 3D printer.


My son and I have discussed getting one several times and every time we come to the conclusion we'd only use it to make a 3D model for an engineer to copy and make something for us out of other materials. We now have a lathe set up and very soon a milling machine on a separate cross slide table (It was a kit where the mill will attach to the lathe but that limits the capacity). I was saying to my son just last night I can buy varying grades of machining nylon to make bushes and other parts for other projects but there's so much waste with machining solid materials whereas the 3D printer would be minimal waste once set up.


I think we're going to need yet another garden shed. Housing department aren't going to like that.......