Telescope Reviews: Post a picture of the scope you made

Well the basic design of the GEM I found while doing research here on CN. The link to it is here http://home.fuse.net/astronomy/gem.html#

There were several variations we implemented into the plan most of which were a matter of material sizing and machining differences. The declination shaft we made is heavier than shown in the plan, 1 1/2" instead of 1 1/4", we decided to build on the heavier side for a larger scope at some point It helps having a Dad as a retired machinist living next door too.

He has the machine shop, I have the wood shop.

In an effort to eliminate as much slop as possible the machined tolerances were generally less than .0006

Where there would be natural downward pressure to a joint i.e. where the shafts meet the upper collars of the bearing surfaces we machined plastic collars to fit between the metal mating surfaces.

A suggestion to all out there. Check out your area for industrial plastic suppliers. You can buy scrap pieces, of decent size I might add, from them very reasonable by the pound generally. UHMW ( Ultra High Molecular Weight) plastic is a very useful thing to have in your shop, the uses are virtually endless for it. I am never without it and it is easily worked with wood working tools.

Matt

Edited by mranum (10/17/07 10:49 PM)