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ATM, Optics and DIY Forum

Amateur Telescope Making (ATM) and any do it yourself related activities. Ask questions, discuss and post pictures of telescope related projects, optics, telescopes, observing chairs, etc.

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Topic	Stats	Last Post Info
Pinned 3D Printed Astronomy Started by Gazpacho , 25 Apr 2020 accessories, ATM, DIY, equipment and 1 more... 1 2 3 141 →	Hot 3,521 replies 578,293 views	italic Yesterday, 08:19 PM
Pinned Post your Optical Design! (This is a no-discussion thread!) Started by Sean Cunneen , 05 Nov 2019 1 2 3 18 →	Hot 428 replies 305,277 views	thierry martin 16 Mar 2025
Pinned Post your home made scope Started by droid , 22 Jan 2013 1 2 3 80 →	Hot 1,983 replies 847,067 views	kingloufassa 12 Mar 2025
Pinned Best of ATM and Help Started by MMICKELS , 02 Jul 2005	0 replies 97,499 views	MMICKELS 02 Jul 2005
baffling a refractor? Started by roscoe , Today, 09:15 AM	5 replies 75 views	$baffling a refractor? - last post by Garyth64$ Garyth64 Today, 10:50 AM
DIY power supply controller for all equipment you want to power. Started by bignerdguy , Today, 08:28 AM	1 reply 70 views	mrowlands Today, 10:43 AM
General DOB altitude sticktion help. Started by John Bali , Today, 09:59 AM	2 replies 45 views	mrowlands Today, 10:37 AM
Possible Performance Of A Timing Belt Drive With A Closed-Loop Stepper Started by TallTanBarbie , 18 Mar 2025	11 replies 269 views	astrokeith Today, 10:27 AM
some experiments with this whole Jones-Bird vs Barlow thing Started by highfnum , 18 Mar 2025 1 2	33 replies 657 views	highfnum Today, 10:00 AM
Is Ion milling technology revolutionary? Started by Darren Drake , 20 Mar 2025	13 replies 439 views	PrestonE Today, 09:37 AM
Good wood species for making small tripod legs? Started by KerryR , 20 Mar 2025 1 2	29 replies 478 views	KerryR Today, 09:26 AM
Servocat on harmonic gearbox Started by a__l , 19 Feb 2025 1 2	48 replies 1,104 views	a__l Today, 08:54 AM
"Inexpensive phase shifting Twyman-Green Interferometer Build" Started by PrestonE , 13 Mar 2025 1 2	43 replies 1,067 views	PrestonE Today, 08:21 AM
24" F/3 Dobsonian build thread Started by CrazyPanda , 07 Oct 2024 1 2	39 replies 1,698 views	PrestonE Today, 08:10 AM
string materials for string scope Started by triplemon , 15 Mar 2025	18 replies 445 views	dbpeckham Today, 04:59 AM
Tolerances in Oslo Started by ThomasM , Yesterday, 09:12 AM	4 replies 126 views	ThomasM Today, 02:23 AM
Braeside observatory 16” mirror ebay Started by Zthomase , 17 Mar 2025	8 replies 373 views	RichA Today, 01:14 AM
Svbony sn106 guide scope bahtinov mask? Started by Whereisclearsky , Yesterday, 07:50 PM	2 replies 66 views	Whereisclearsky Today, 01:04 AM
8" F/4.5 Mirror Project for Astrograph Started by JSeay86 , 20 May 2023 1 2	29 replies 1,314 views	JSeay86 Yesterday, 09:54 PM
Build Progress Started by Meterman , 01 Dec 2024 1 2 3 5 →	Hot 103 replies 3,930 views	Meterman Yesterday, 07:30 PM
Latitude limits of Equatorial platform Started by Puli , 19 Mar 2025	6 replies 222 views	HenkSB Yesterday, 07:07 PM
cast iron grinding tool Started by duck , 14 Feb 2025 1 2	27 replies 970 views	duck Yesterday, 04:15 PM
Reticle to Ridicule Started by whereIsIt , 25 Feb 2025	23 replies 825 views	whereIsIt Yesterday, 12:43 PM
Anyone offering machining services? Started by psionik , 08 Dec 2021 ATM, DIY, Mount	5 replies 1,161 views	sunrag Yesterday, 07:26 AM
Help with Orion xt8 focuser upgrade Started by danhoffmann42 , Yesterday, 07:12 AM	0 replies 72 views	danhoffmann42 Yesterday, 07:12 AM
Lifetime project: Light-weighted Quartz glass 20" RC telescope with only 23% obstruction Started by ukyochen , 19 Mar 2025	7 replies 361 views	hamishbarker Yesterday, 03:18 AM
DIY Aperture Mask in the planning stages Started by robjme , 16 Mar 2025 Refractor	10 replies 217 views	izar187 20 Mar 2025
Optical glass density tolerances Started by gitane71 , 06 Mar 2025 ATM, DIY, Lens Making, Optics and 1 more... 1 2	26 replies 599 views	gitane71 20 Mar 2025
How to buy refractor lens blanks? Started by mconnelley , 11 Mar 2025	12 replies 579 views	$How to buy refractor lens blanks? - last post by horizon$ horizon 20 Mar 2025
Krylon 1602 Started by PeteM , 04 Feb 2025	18 replies 795 views	AlamoBob 20 Mar 2025
SW 130P Focuser Mod. Started by Chris1485 , 20 Mar 2025	1 reply 81 views	Chris1485 20 Mar 2025
Is it possible to hand ginrd/polish bullet proof glass? Started by H.I. , 19 Mar 2025 Mirror Making	11 replies 285 views	triplemon 20 Mar 2025
Let's Build a C14 Started by mconnelley , 12 Apr 2024 1 2 3 4	Hot 85 replies 6,247 views	mconnelley 20 Mar 2025
Simple Tube Balance Weight for Long-Focus Refractor Started by Jay_Reynolds_Freeman , 17 Mar 2025 Classic, Refractor, Mount	2 replies 207 views	$Simple Tube Balance Weight for Long-Focus Refractor - last post by Bob4BVM$ Bob4BVM 19 Mar 2025
$60 Chillers for non-cooled cameras. Started by cengell , 18 Mar 2025	2 replies 188 views	cengell 19 Mar 2025
Spraying Silver, a suggestion Started by Oregon-raybender , 18 Mar 2025 Accessories, ATM, Beginner, Clubs and 6 more...	3 replies 233 views	Bob4BVM 19 Mar 2025
Dull gray weather leads to silliness. Started by John R. , 14 Mar 2025	11 replies 348 views	John R. 19 Mar 2025
Replacing flexible cable controls with motors on my T-Rex Apex Started by BKBrown , 16 Mar 2025 DIY, Mount	3 replies 139 views	$Replacing flexible cable controls with motors on my T-Rex Apex - last post by Binofrac$ Binofrac 19 Mar 2025
DIY 3d printed harmonic drive mount Started by Laplase , 24 Nov 2023 1 2 3 12 →	Hot 290 replies 33,739 views	Laplase 19 Mar 2025
DIY battery Started by Cityskylights , 15 Mar 2025	11 replies 358 views	a__l 18 Mar 2025
Making a fast apo lens Started by ThomasM , 28 Dec 2024 Lens Making, Optics, Visual and 1 more... 1 2 3 5 →	Hot 114 replies 4,326 views	IslandPink 18 Mar 2025
VNS Equatorial Platform Design Help Please Started by dr_gn , 06 Jan 2025 1 2 3 6 →	Hot 128 replies 4,273 views	dr_gn 18 Mar 2025
Mirror Repurposing Started by westchesterastro , 16 Mar 2025	10 replies 303 views	AlamoBob 18 Mar 2025
300mm Newtonian project Started by yard , 17 Mar 2025	15 replies 498 views	yard 18 Mar 2025
Advise on Making My First Telescope 8" Mirror Started by todnik , 06 Jan 2025 1 2 3 7 →	Hot 171 replies 3,788 views	ccaissie 18 Mar 2025
Rubber-Tipped Set-Screws? Started by cavecollector , 03 Mar 2025	17 replies 465 views	Spinwiz 17 Mar 2025
Feathertouch Focuser Issue Started by lightsky , 14 Mar 2025 1 2	44 replies 714 views	lightsky 17 Mar 2025
AliExpress Parabolic Mirrors Started by Phaenomena , 09 Jun 2022 1 2 3 7 →	Hot 169 replies 13,745 views	Dale Eason 17 Mar 2025
DIY scope as a Summer Camp Activity Started by The_boots , 03 Mar 2025 DIY, Optics, Beginner and 1 more... 1 2 3 4	Hot 76 replies 1,468 views	Oregon-raybender 17 Mar 2025
Reducing the size of a first-surface flat mirror Started by BruceAllen , 03 Jan 2025 1 2	34 replies 1,062 views	BruceAllen 17 Mar 2025