A 3D printed Steampunk Telescope Project

[Bassnut (Fred)]

Heres a sneak preview of progress on a Steampunk Scope. Its just the beginning.
Im beginning to appreciate the detail steampunk art requires and the insane expertise and time steampunk artists put into this art.
Google steampunk if you dont know what it is, its a fantastic artform!.
To design for 3D printing adds another level of complexity that is very time consuming.
I was hoping to use metallic-looking ABS filament I have, but it involves far to many separate parts and complex assembly, so I will probably paint instead. To paint Epic-retro-rusted is a whole world of pain in itself!, quite a challenge.

[ZeroID (Brent)]

Looks cool. I'm into the SP thing, it's more than an 'art form'. It's a whole alternative way of perceiving things for many.
How big is this going to be ?

[Bassnut (Fred)]

About 25cm high. There will be high res retro-looking LED display items too. Yes, its an alternative life style for some, especially fashion.

[Regulus (Trevor)]

Very cool project Fred. Looking forward to seeing the end product.

Trev

[AndrewJ]

Gday Fred
Looks like fun
I reckon you should use the old/ornate style cast iron latticework patterns for the spider vanes, and "fabricated/rivetted" I beams for the tubing.

Andrew

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Very cool Fred ..agree with Andrew too, the Alt/Az base assembly looks perfect but the upper truss assembly looks very today, standard.

Look forward to seeing some progress snaps along the way if you are inclined to post'em

Mike

[multiweb (Marc)]

Awesome. That's very cool.

[rally]

Hey Fred,

Where's all the Steam driven piston operated functionality !
And whats the F ratio, Strehl etc and how about a peek at the Longitudinal Spot diagrams !!!

I assume you'll be using your Mechanical Spider to get out to the observing sites

. . . and why does it not surprise me that its you doing this project ?!!$^%@#$@!

Cheers

Rally

[Bassnut (Fred)]

Originally Posted by Regulus

Very cool project Fred. Looking forward to seeing the end product.

Trev

Thanks Trev, it might take a while.

Originally Posted by AndrewJ

Gday Fred
Looks like fun
I reckon you should use the old/ornate style cast iron latticework patterns for the spider vanes, and "fabricated/rivetted" I beams for the tubing.

Andrew

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

Very cool Fred ..agree with Andrew too, the Alt/Az base assembly looks perfect but the upper truss assembly looks very today, standard.

Look forward to seeing some progress snaps along the way if you are inclined to post'em

Mike

Excellent feedback guys, yes the spider is way too standard, it was a start to get going with. I cant get too detailed for 3D print, 2mm detail at this scale is about the limit. Much is yet to do. Insane image train, control center, guide scope and some electronic retro display trickery to make it really pop. Actually, the aim is to make this the main item in a sort of SP scope clock, with 4 small hi res displays mounted with it (hrs, mins, very retro font). I dont know yet what to do with those 4 (seperate) digits. I was thinking 4 fat short SP refactors with digits displayed inside the front of the lens, or eyepeices or something, im open to ideas.

Originally Posted by multiweb

Awesome. That's very cool.

Thanks Marc, given your professional past in 3D modeling, I hope to at least to produce a thing you find pleasing

Originally Posted by rally

Hey Fred,

Where's all the Steam driven piston operated functionality !
And whats the F ratio, Strehl etc and how about a peek at the Longitudinal Spot diagrams !!!

I assume you'll be using your Mechanical Spider to get out to the observing sites

. . . and why does it not surprise me that its you doing this project ?!!$^%@#$@!

Cheers

Rally

More pistons coming!. The primary is a hyper, hyper something, the Stehl ratio is 100%, the FL is 58m, and the spot in the spot diagrams are so small you cant see them and so are not measurable.

[multiweb (Marc)]

Originally Posted by Bassnut

... and the spot in the spot diagrams are so small you cant see them and so are not measurable.

Just like your stars

[Bassnut (Fred)]

Originally Posted by multiweb

Just like your stars

God made stars for guiding, they have no other purpose.

[Regulus (Trevor)]

Thanks Trev, it might take a while.

All the best things do, and are worth the wait