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Hello,
i am in the process of finishing a carbon tube for my 222mm f5.9 and there are a few things i learned with this project:
- it is expensive to experiment with carbon fibre!
-it is also addictive; like silk, it has a special lustre.
-the first important thing is to have a solid form to wrap that precious fibres. I made mine from a 5mm cardboard tube i got for a piece of pie at the local "light-weight barrel factory", they made it up to my requirements for about 20$
-the carbon layers are 3x KDK-8042 and 1 layer KDL-8005
-pressure was applied by wrapping the epoxy-soaked carbon fabric with silicone treated polyester-tape, to remove excess resin.
-the finished tube (1355mm) is 1630g , 2mm thick and very solid.
The nine point mirror cell is 280g and carbon too.
I am putting in a curved,carbon tree vain spider and the focuser will be the only metal part exept for a few springs and bolts.
The aim is to have the OTA below 5kg, I hope...to finish it for the next new moon.
I love this kind of work and wonder what the next project will be!
clear skies!
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