Telescope Reviews: Focal length reduced

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Equipment Discussions >> ATM, Optics and DIY Forum

Pages: 1

Wolfdale
member

Reged: 10/20/12

Focal length reduced
#5627468 - 01/17/13 05:48 AM

I really dont know what to say, I was in making 6" F/8 but after completing all carborundum series it was decreased to F/4.5
My Focal length is 754mm, As i know there will be less magnification, so can i use 2X Barlow lens to view to increase its magnification with its increase in FL.

Edited by Wolfdale (01/17/13 05:50 AM)

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Bill Whitehead
sage

Reged: 07/11/09

Loc: Exit 135 - Garden St Parkway

Re: Focal length reduced new

[Re: Wolfdale]
#5627526 - 01/17/13 07:12 AM

I used one of those thingy's that measure the spark plug distance to make sure my sagitta was correct. Then I kept flipping the tool from bottom to top to keep it at the depth I wanted.

Once it's gone, I guess you can't add glass to it. It you wanted to work even harder, you could try to reduce the edge.

Ah, the joys of creating your own mirror.

Good luck, Bill

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dan_h
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 12/10/07

Re: Focal length reduced new

[Re: Wolfdale]
#5627608 - 01/17/13 08:34 AM

Is it possible that you made an error when you originally calculated the sag? Once a mirror is hogged out to the correct radius it takes a great deal grinding with the finer grits to move the radius very much.

If you have kept a log of the grinding progress you should review it to determine what went wrong for you on this mirror.

dan

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benula
member

Reged: 04/27/11

Loc: Stillwater, MN

Re: Focal length reduced new

[Re: dan_h]
#5627658 - 01/17/13 09:09 AM

Maybe you confused radius of curvature and focal length??

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kfrederick
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 02/01/08

Re: Focal length reduced new

[Re: dan_h]
#5627659 - 01/17/13 09:09 AM

Put the mirror on the bottom and work the center of the tool on the edge of the mirror . Then go to regular strokes to get it spherical With a 6inch not much glass needs removed Made that error on a 20 .Learn on the small . If you have the grit and you wont longer You are the master of the glass it does not master you . HA HA just have fun it it is f4 no big deal . still work good

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Wolfdale
member

Reged: 10/20/12

Re: Focal length reduced new

[Re: kfrederick]
#5629337 - 01/18/13 04:33 AM

can this be useable or not? what range of eyepiece do i need?

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ccaissie
sage

Reged: 09/13/10

Loc: Whitefield, Maine

Re: Focal length reduced new

[Re: Wolfdale]
#5629451 - 01/18/13 08:02 AM

Sure it's useable. You sway you went through all the carborundum grades. What are you finished with now? 320, 500? Or do you mean you're ready to polish?

What's the sagitta now? Don't panic, and don't do anything yet without thinking it over.

Do you have enough grit to regrind? If so, you can reduce the curve a lot, maybe all the way. It may be a matter of just doing it.

Whaddya say? First mirror? I recommend making it a longer focus, as f/4 will take a long time to figure right, much longer than regrinding it and doing an f/6,7,8.

Don't ask how I know all this.

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