For the last year I have been working on a telescope. It's not entirely printed but most of it is, including the two gearboxes. I have been spurred on by a thread from @mike01hu who is also building a telescope | https://forum.e3d-online.com/index.php?threads/carbon-fibre-filament-job-update.1443/ If you came to TCT you may have spotted the lower half on display. There's also a short feature on James Butons (XRobots) TCT youtube video | (skip to 10:40). The scope is built around an 8" f4 primary mirror. I made the decision early on that I wanted to use it solely for astrophotography so there is no secondary mirror. There is a camera CCD at the 800mm focal point. It is the exact same camera that the Raspberry Pi uses except it is a much smaller package. This help keep the lightpath clear. I have been printing parts over the past few months and things are starting to come together! There are a few very large prints in there, some have taken over three days. There are still some complex parts to print including the DEC gearbox. I'll try and keep the thread alive with updates. I hope to write an in depth article on Instructables once shes all built and working. Watch this space!....
I remember your early drawing and the finished result is superb. On your next iteration, consider converting to an equatorial mount by the addition of a wedge so that you don't get field rotation on long exposures. A wedge is an easy make but you will need counterbalances. I've posted pics of a small one I made for my solar scope but you can see the principle. This was printed in white PLA but no photo of that taken.
Way ahead of you there The base has adjustment in it to angle the forks backwards. It can be locked into place with clamps on the side. I've engraved the side with marks for reference.
Baffles are in as is the camera focus assembly at the front... I think I might put in the primary mirror and see if I can get anything out of it....
success! sort of... that's a lamp across the industrial park. Also looks like there is something on the CCD. Enough sitting in the dark in the workshop for today I think....
