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Astrophotography and Sketching >> DSLR & Digital Camera Astro Imaging & Processing

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Jimmy2K63
Pooh-Bah
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Reged: 04/26/09
Posts: 1193
Loc: Kentucky
Building a Bahtinov mask
      #3386140 - 10/12/09 09:19 PM

Some time back I found a website that allows one to computer generate and print a Bahtinov mask. I've had it sitting on my desk at work for a while now. What do you guys use to make one out of? Would something like a piece of cardboard be all one would need or is there something better to use?

Ideally it would be nice to have that would just fit on the end of the OTA.

Thanks for the replies.
James

--------------------
http://astronomyguy63.blogspot.com/

LXD75 SN6-UHTC
Cave Astrola 10" f/5
Garrett 15x70/FarSight
Canon XS (1000D)


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David Rosenthal
Carpal Tunnel
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Reged: 06/23/06
Posts: 1646
Loc: NJ
Re: Building a Bahtinov mask new [Re: Jimmy2K63]
      #3386145 - 10/12/09 09:22 PM

I have made 2 out of cardboard and one out of thick cover stock. Both work great. The cover stock was a bit easier to work with the X-Acto knife.

--------------------
David Rosenthal | Midland Park, NJ


My Image Gallery
http://www.EastCoastAstro.com

Atlas EQ-G EQMOD USBDIR [Self-Hypertuned]
8" SCT | AT8IN | Borg 76ED | Takahashi FS-60C
Self Modded 400D | SX MX716 | DSI Pro | SPC900NC


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drksky
super member


Reged: 09/01/09
Posts: 115
Re: Building a Bahtinov mask new [Re: David Rosenthal]
      #3386172 - 10/12/09 09:41 PM

I've been making mine out of black foam core board that I'm buying at Wal-Mart. It's like two bucks for a 16 X 24 sheet. Cut the disk for the mask and two rings that fit over your scope and glue them together. They're a little thicker and harder to cut than card stock, but they're beefier and won't wilt if they get dew on them.

--------------------
Tony C
AT8RC
C6-R
CG-5 ASGT
ST80 w/StarShoot Autoguider
Canon EOS 450D (Stock)
The Drinking Bird


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Nils_Lars
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Reged: 01/04/08
Posts: 3459
Loc: Santa Cruz Mountains , CA
Re: Building a Bahtinov mask new [Re: Jimmy2K63]
      #3386218 - 10/12/09 10:04 PM

I made one from a cereal box but I didnt like that it warped in the dew , I also made one from a plastic file folder from office depot that help up well.

--------------------
Erik

Orion Atlas Self Hypertuned (EQMOD)
Orion ED 80
Williams Optics VII reducer
Celestron 8" SCT
Orion Starshoot Autoguider
PHD guide
Canon 400D Hap Griffin Mod w/Baader filter
Astronomik clip-in LP filter and 12nm Ha
Stilleto CVF and Bahtinov mask
Tamron 75-300mm&28-80mm lenses
NexImage webcam

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31986095@N05/


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JR#8
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Reged: 08/31/04
Posts: 191
Loc: Edison, NJ
Re: Building a Bahtinov mask new [Re: Nils_Lars]
      #3386245 - 10/12/09 10:15 PM

Black Foam board worked for me. A little harder to cut as said above and it does old up to the weather and tossing it around, in and out of the bag

--------------------
Meade 10 LX200-SMT GPS
Orion ED 80 APO
Solar Filter
Canon Powershot 80
Canon 20D
Tarmon Lens AF28-80,AF70-300


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ldesign1
newbie


Reged: 09/17/09
Posts: 1
Re: Building a Bahtinov mask new [Re: Jimmy2K63]
      #3386543 - 10/13/09 02:42 AM

You can print your own from http://astrojargon.net/MaskGen.aspx
and you can buy some .06" thick abs plastic material from http://www.rplastics.com/


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John Carruthers
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Reged: 02/02/07
Posts: 2273
Loc: Kent, UK
Re: Building a Bahtinov mask new [Re: Jimmy2K63]
      #3386622 - 10/13/09 05:11 AM

I used a polystyrene backing board from a pizza but if you're not keen on knife work you could lay bamboo skewers on a template, then remove every other one to get paralel gaps? a simple Y wire across the front aperture will give similar results but not quite as efficiently.

--------------------
Jc

ATM 10" F6.1, 1/25th wave spec (max wavefront error +/- 1/12.6 in zone 4 of 6, sodium light )
6" F7 spec
127mm F9.4 Refractor
10 x 50 bin
ETX80 (finder)
Canon 20D
PST
DSI 1
and a curious mind



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Stardaug
professor emeritus


Reged: 08/03/08
Posts: 531
Loc: Ontario, Canada
Re: Building a Bahtinov mask new [Re: John Carruthers]
      #3387058 - 10/13/09 12:07 PM

I bought one online from Kendrick Astro for $19.95 for my 80mm refractor. Cost me less than driving around to pick up supplies and spending the time printing and cutting to make it.

--------------------
"Keep looking up!"
Shawn / Ontario, Canada
Celestron CPC800 SCT w/XLT & GPS // Skywatcher Equinox 80ED F6.25 500mm APO // Canon Rebel 350XT unmodded // Milburn EQ Wedge (a Meade model modified to fit my CPC)


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Rankinstudio
sage
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Reged: 04/05/08
Posts: 425
Loc: Salt Lake City, UT, Lake Powel...
Re: Building a Bahtinov mask new [Re: Stardaug]
      #3387146 - 10/13/09 01:02 PM

I made one for my 10" newt out of a lid to a larger plastic storage container. Worked great. I like the foam board idea stated above tho. Never crossed my mind.

--------------------
David Rankin
http://www.rankinstudio.com
Astro Gallery
Orion 254mm F4.7 (imaging scope)
Baader MPCC
Quickcam pro 9000 (guider, imager)
Canon Rebel XSi (self modified)
Atlas EQ-G (EQ MOD)
Canon 50mm F1.8 II Lens
Canon 28-200 F3.2 Lens
DSLR peltier cooler





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drksky
super member


Reged: 09/01/09
Posts: 115
Re: Building a Bahtinov mask new [Re: Rankinstudio]
      #3387368 - 10/13/09 03:08 PM

I went with something paper-based, like the foam core, because it's easily cutable with an x-acto knife. As opposed to something like plastic which taks a bit more to cut.

I had a friend who has a plasma cutter cut me one out of steel, but it's just way too heavy and he doesn't work with aluminum.

--------------------
Tony C
AT8RC
C6-R
CG-5 ASGT
ST80 w/StarShoot Autoguider
Canon EOS 450D (Stock)
The Drinking Bird


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Footbag
sage


Reged: 04/13/09
Posts: 468
Loc: Scranton, PA
Re: Building a Bahtinov mask new [Re: drksky]
      #3387503 - 10/13/09 04:19 PM

I spent three hours making one out of foam board and an exacto knife.

The other day, my dog shredded it, so I ordered one online.

--------------------
Adam

Celestron CPC 800, Celestron HD Wedge
Hyperion 17mm, Celestron 40mm Plossl, TMB 9mm
WO 66, SSAG
Modded Canon XS

Lackawanna Astronomical Society

My Gallery


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waassaabee
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Reged: 11/26/07
Posts: 2710
Loc: Central California Coast
Re: Building a Bahtinov mask new [Re: Footbag]
      #3387512 - 10/13/09 04:26 PM

Quote:

I spent three hours making one out of foam board and an exacto knife.

The other day, my dog shredded it, so I ordered one online.



How's the dog?

--------------------
Gary

34N 120W

-My kingdom for blue squares!-

WO Megrez 90FD/TV 0.8x FR/FF
AT8RC
mini Borg 50/Q-Guide/PHD
CGEM
Canon 350D Hap Griffin Baader mod - o.o

My Friend Flickr


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Footbag
sage


Reged: 04/13/09
Posts: 468
Loc: Scranton, PA
Re: Building a Bahtinov mask new [Re: waassaabee]
      #3387611 - 10/13/09 05:11 PM

Quote:

Quote:

I spent three hours making one out of foam board and an exacto knife.

The other day, my dog shredded it, so I ordered one online.



How's the dog?




He was delicious!

--------------------
Adam

Celestron CPC 800, Celestron HD Wedge
Hyperion 17mm, Celestron 40mm Plossl, TMB 9mm
WO 66, SSAG
Modded Canon XS

Lackawanna Astronomical Society

My Gallery


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waassaabee
Carpal Tunnel
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Reged: 11/26/07
Posts: 2710
Loc: Central California Coast
Re: Building a Bahtinov mask new [Re: Footbag]
      #3387763 - 10/13/09 06:24 PM



--------------------
Gary

34N 120W

-My kingdom for blue squares!-

WO Megrez 90FD/TV 0.8x FR/FF
AT8RC
mini Borg 50/Q-Guide/PHD
CGEM
Canon 350D Hap Griffin Baader mod - o.o

My Friend Flickr


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lawrie
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Reged: 01/31/06
Posts: 1744
Loc: Okanagan Valley
Re: Building a Bahtinov mask new [Re: waassaabee]
      #3387876 - 10/13/09 07:25 PM

For the larger masks I used a vinyl floor tile, easy to cut, and sturdy.

--------------------
Clear Skies
Lawrie

Ultima 8
Atlas EQ-G
ZenithStar 80 FD
DSI Pro - Pro II
Canon 350D


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cdndob
professor emeritus


Reged: 07/28/06
Posts: 665
Loc: The Great White North
Re: Building a Bahtinov mask new [Re: Footbag]
      #3387898 - 10/13/09 07:33 PM

Quote:

Quote:

Quote:

I spent three hours making one out of foam board and an exacto knife.

The other day, my dog shredded it, so I ordered one online.



How's the dog?




He was delicious!



I guess that's why you ordered another one online!

--------------------


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David_B
newbie


Reged: 08/02/09
Posts: 1
Re: Building a Bahtinov mask new [Re: Jimmy2K63]
      #3404023 - 10/22/09 11:36 AM

Sorry for the intrusion from a new member but I am looking for help and suggestions. I friend of mine owns a PlaneWave CDK-17 and has asked me if I could make him a mask for it. I made mine out of foam core board, like a number of others here, and figured I could do the same for him. It's a good sized scope and though I have had no issues with my mask I was wondering that others think about using foam core board on this scale?

My observatory is a roll off roof so I get plenty of dew so I sprayed my mask with clear polyurethane, another thought for his.

Thanks!

--------------------
Clear, Dark Skies!

Dave Birmingham

Birmingham Astronomical Observatory
Harvard MPC/ H53
Thompsonville, IL
37° 56' 28.7" N / -088° 46' 18.5" W
ele. 516 ft/ 157 m
12" LX200GPS s/n 05008
ASO SuperCharge # 243-2012
Main Imager SBIG ST-402ME-C1


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RandallK
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Reged: 11/10/06
Posts: 1003
Loc: Nanaimo, B. C. Canada
Re: Building a Bahtinov mask new [Re: David_B]
      #3404106 - 10/22/09 12:32 PM

I downloaded the ".svg" file for each of my scopes from that above mentioned website. I e-mailed them to a local engraver here in town and he burned them out of some type of plastic. The edges are razor sharp..just like it was manufactured. He charged me 20 bucks each but it was worth it.

--------------------
Scopes: Meade SC-8AT w UHTC
Orion ST-80 Refractor (Autoguiding)
SkyWatcher 5" F/5 Reflector
SkyWatcher 127mm MAK
Mount: HEQ5 Pro
Cameras: Orion Starshoot DS Colour Imager V.1
Imaging Source Webcam DMK21AU04.AS
Canon XSi 450D Unmodded
Palm TX PDA w Astromist and Bluetooth wireles control.


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sctchun
sage


Reged: 03/26/06
Posts: 208
Loc: HI
Re: Building a Bahtinov mask new [Re: RandallK]
      #3404667 - 10/22/09 05:30 PM

For my masks I print the image out on a transparency sheet then frame it using thick cardboard (used sometimes on the backs of picture frames) and assemble the whole thing using 3M plastic tape. It's light and cost me less than $5 to make and no precision cutting required.

Steven

--------------------
AT 8" IN
Meade 8" LX200-R (ACF)
Meade Series 5000 80mm
Vixen Sphinx SXW


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Steve OK
member


Reged: 09/22/07
Posts: 85
Re: Building a Bahtinov mask new [Re: sctchun]
      #3405667 - 10/23/09 07:01 AM

So is the degradation of the image caused by the transparent sheet not an issue? That is a great idea!

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