Star Gazer94
member
Reged: 12/20/08
Posts: 12
Loc: Altoona, Wisconsin
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Hello, I've been in the shadows reading for some time not posting, but I figure its time to reveal myself. This will (hopefully) be my first ATM project and although its probably not the best thing to start with in terms of being easy, I hoped to make a 8" binocular telescope. I was planning on grinding the mirrors myself using the kit from william-bell , making my own tool instead of using the second blank so I could make two mirrors (I would have to order more grit I assume). Is that even possible to do? I read over Stellafane's website and many others about ATM, but they don't always give those tips that people have discovered that forums can provide. I also ordered Texereau's book and requested a few others from the library, but I haven't received any yet so I figured I'd ask on the forum while I waited. I found a site outlining a 12.5" binocular telescope and he mentioned using Dale Keller's Newt 2.5 which is a windows only application as far as I could tell, I am using a mac and I was wondering if there was any software that was similar. Any software for ATMing would be nice too. Please and thanks 
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http://astronomyking.wordpress.com/ (a work in progress)
Meade ETX-125AT w/ tripod (my new baby)
Homemade 6" Dobsonian
60 mm Bushnell Refractor (not used anymore)
Orion 17mm Stratus
TMB 7mm Planetary Eyepiece
Homemade 11mm RKE
Meade 4000 26mm Super Plössl
Edmunds Scientific RKE 28mm
Homemade 19mm plossl
Olympus E-510
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Vincent Becker
super member
Reged: 09/16/08
Posts: 195
Loc: France
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This is indeed ambitious for a first project... Maybe you should make a normal newt first to get it right?
As for grinding the two mirrors, I think it will be difficult to have the two focal lengths within the tolerance for a binonewt, especially if they are your first ones.
I see in your signature that you have a homemade dobsonian so this is not your first atm project?
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Vincent Becker
10" dobsonian on EQ platform (home-made by my father)
8" string newtonian as travelscope (home-made by myself  )
Orion 80ED and GSO 200/1000 on Atlas EQ-G for astro-imaging
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Star Gazer94
member
Reged: 12/20/08
Posts: 12
Loc: Altoona, Wisconsin
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Yeah I was worried about that, it probably would be best if I would save this project for latter. The 6" Dob was given to me by my uncle, it was made by his friend... who had left it in storage for many years without a cover  So there was a VERY thick layer of dust on the mirror. The coatings seemed fine though so we carefully cleaned it off. The biggest problem was it didn't have a focuser, just a drop in tube
Edited by Star Gazer94 (07/01/09 10:27 AM)
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Vincent Becker
super member
Reged: 09/16/08
Posts: 195
Loc: France
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Maybe you could make a standard newt but with a bino in mind, that is with an industrial mirror of reproductible focal length and as much reusable parts as possible (the primary cage and mirror cell come to mind) for turning it into a bino later.
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Vincent Becker
10" dobsonian on EQ platform (home-made by my father)
8" string newtonian as travelscope (home-made by myself )
Orion 80ED and GSO 200/1000 on Atlas EQ-G for astro-imaging
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Star Gazer94
member
Reged: 12/20/08
Posts: 12
Loc: Altoona, Wisconsin
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Good idea, I never thought about doing that
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http://astronomyking.wordpress.com/ (a work in progress)
Meade ETX-125AT w/ tripod (my new baby)
Homemade 6" Dobsonian
60 mm Bushnell Refractor (not used anymore)
Orion 17mm Stratus
TMB 7mm Planetary Eyepiece
Homemade 11mm RKE
Meade 4000 26mm Super Plössl
Edmunds Scientific RKE 28mm
Homemade 19mm plossl
Olympus E-510
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Star Gazer94
member
Reged: 12/20/08
Posts: 12
Loc: Altoona, Wisconsin
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I did find this website and he has an interesting way of making two mirrors that will end up being the same.
http://lerch.no-ip.com/atm/
"Since I’m building a Binocular telescope I need two mirrors. To make it more fun each mirror must be exactly the same! To do this I ground both mirrors on the same tool, which worked amazingly well! To implement this I would put down some grit on the tool, Put mirror A on top, do 2 laps around the barrel, with 20 cordial strokes per position, and 8 positions around the barrel to make 1 lap. After completing 2 laps I would set aside mirror A, add fresh grit to the tool, put mirror B on top and repeat."
Was it luck or will that actually work?
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http://astronomyking.wordpress.com/ (a work in progress)
Meade ETX-125AT w/ tripod (my new baby)
Homemade 6" Dobsonian
60 mm Bushnell Refractor (not used anymore)
Orion 17mm Stratus
TMB 7mm Planetary Eyepiece
Homemade 11mm RKE
Meade 4000 26mm Super Plössl
Edmunds Scientific RKE 28mm
Homemade 19mm plossl
Olympus E-510
Edited by Star Gazer94 (07/01/09 08:43 PM)
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PrestonE
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 04/29/05
Posts: 1166
Loc: Houston,Texas
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Hello Star Gazer...If you were to Google Derek Newton, you may find a wealth of information as I have been helping him in his quest to build a 20-24 inch bino of his own design and he displayed the unfinished scope at this years Texas Star Party...
To be finished next year...just too many thing to work out before the finish...
Best Regards,
Preston
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A few I enjoy,
and a few more in the works ;<)
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Star Gazer94
member
Reged: 12/20/08
Posts: 12
Loc: Altoona, Wisconsin
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Thanks Preston, what are some issues when constructing a binoscope? I know alignment is a major factor, but are there any others?
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http://astronomyking.wordpress.com/ (a work in progress)
Meade ETX-125AT w/ tripod (my new baby)
Homemade 6" Dobsonian
60 mm Bushnell Refractor (not used anymore)
Orion 17mm Stratus
TMB 7mm Planetary Eyepiece
Homemade 11mm RKE
Meade 4000 26mm Super Plössl
Edmunds Scientific RKE 28mm
Homemade 19mm plossl
Olympus E-510
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Star Gazer94
member
Reged: 12/20/08
Posts: 12
Loc: Altoona, Wisconsin
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Okay, I got Texereau's book today... now to start reading
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http://astronomyking.wordpress.com/ (a work in progress)
Meade ETX-125AT w/ tripod (my new baby)
Homemade 6" Dobsonian
60 mm Bushnell Refractor (not used anymore)
Orion 17mm Stratus
TMB 7mm Planetary Eyepiece
Homemade 11mm RKE
Meade 4000 26mm Super Plössl
Edmunds Scientific RKE 28mm
Homemade 19mm plossl
Olympus E-510
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HiggsBoson
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 02/21/07
Posts: 1105
Loc: Kal-li-fornia
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Consider grinding a 6” for the telescope you have. That should be doable in about 40 hours of work. You would not need to build the rest of the scope because you already have it. Pay particular attention to control of the focal length.
I suggest that you get two identical 8” blanks. Using a plate glass tool and a Pyrex blank is asking for trouble. They will not grind at the same rate when using the same tool and same grit. They may not be the same thickness and their thermal properties will not be the same. There is much to learn by completing a 6” before making your plans for your Bino.
I was in the same position a few years ago when I wanted to build a 12.5” Newt. I first completed a Pyrex 6” F/9 and learned much about telescopes. It was a thrill the first time I focused it on the Moon. As I was viewing the ISS transited the moon. This was my first light with my 6” and that feeling can never be replaced by any other scope.
With that scope complete I completely redesigned my 12.5”. I have learned many things that I would not have known just be reading books and forums. Now I have a solid design for my 12.5”. This time I went with Fused Silica 12.5” F/4.5. I am working on the parabola at this time. I have not worked on it for several months due to a new job, a new house and issues at work but I am building the scope so that it will be available for my star test.
Good luck with your project!
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Michael
ATM: 6" F/9 Newtonian Travel Scope
ATM: 12.5" F/4.5 Real Soon Now...
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Star Gazer94
member
Reged: 12/20/08
Posts: 12
Loc: Altoona, Wisconsin
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Wouldn't I need to keep the focal length the same as the current scope as to not effect the focus and doesn't the william-bell kit also use two pyrex blanks (or maybe I misunderstood what you were saying, I'm new to this and its a very good possibility)?
Good luck on your 12.5" Scope!
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http://astronomyking.wordpress.com/ (a work in progress)
Meade ETX-125AT w/ tripod (my new baby)
Homemade 6" Dobsonian
60 mm Bushnell Refractor (not used anymore)
Orion 17mm Stratus
TMB 7mm Planetary Eyepiece
Homemade 11mm RKE
Meade 4000 26mm Super Plössl
Edmunds Scientific RKE 28mm
Homemade 19mm plossl
Olympus E-510
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Zoomit
sage
Reged: 12/04/06
Posts: 282
Loc: Tehachapi, CA
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Quote:
Hello Star Gazer...If you were to Google Derek Newton, you may find a wealth of information as I have been helping him in his quest to build a 20-24 inch bino of his own design and he displayed the unfinished scope at this years Texas Star Party...
To be finished next year...just too many thing to work out before the finish...
Best Regards,
Preston
Googling Derek Newton (and other relevant words) didn't lead me to anything about telescopes. Do you know of any links to pictures of his telescope?
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Brandon
Newts: 18" f/4.6; 7.4" f/6.4
EPs: TV 26Nt5, 13E, 3-6NZ; Antares 2" 1.6x, Paracorr
Bino: 15x70, 12x50, 6x30
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Zoomit
sage
Reged: 12/04/06
Posts: 282
Loc: Tehachapi, CA
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Star Gazer94,
I suggest diving into the Binewt Yahoo! Group. It's the best resource anywhere to understand the particular challenges associated with making binocular reflectors.
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Brandon
Newts: 18" f/4.6; 7.4" f/6.4
EPs: TV 26Nt5, 13E, 3-6NZ; Antares 2" 1.6x, Paracorr
Bino: 15x70, 12x50, 6x30
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Zoomit
sage
Reged: 12/04/06
Posts: 282
Loc: Tehachapi, CA
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I'll also add that a binewt is not for the faint of heart. I haven't made mine yet, though I've designed dozens of configurations. I haven't found one that satisfies all my requirements. Making two similar focal length mirrors is just the beginning. I'll definitely be buying my mirrors!
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Brandon
Newts: 18" f/4.6; 7.4" f/6.4
EPs: TV 26Nt5, 13E, 3-6NZ; Antares 2" 1.6x, Paracorr
Bino: 15x70, 12x50, 6x30
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Star Gazer94
member
Reged: 12/20/08
Posts: 12
Loc: Altoona, Wisconsin
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Okay I joined that group, wow those yahoo groups look like a very handy place to get help on things like this, thanks!
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http://astronomyking.wordpress.com/ (a work in progress)
Meade ETX-125AT w/ tripod (my new baby)
Homemade 6" Dobsonian
60 mm Bushnell Refractor (not used anymore)
Orion 17mm Stratus
TMB 7mm Planetary Eyepiece
Homemade 11mm RKE
Meade 4000 26mm Super Plössl
Edmunds Scientific RKE 28mm
Homemade 19mm plossl
Olympus E-510
|
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