Observation by Eric Walker: 3D-Printed C11 Collimating Bolts

Uploaded by

Eric Walker

Observer

Eric Walker

Observed

2020 Nov 01 - 18:00

Uploaded

2020 Nov 01 - 22:37

Objects

Observatory
Equipment
The Bubble Nebula (NGC7635)

Equipment

Celestron C11 (“Nexstar”) OTA
Ender3 3D-Printer
ABS and PLA filaments

Location

Beinn View Observatory, Conon Bridge, Scottish Highlands

Title

3D-Printed C11 Collimating Bolts

About this image

This weekend’s telescope improvement project: design & 3D-print collimating bolts for my C11 SCT.

Collimating (alignment of all the optical elements) is important for normal viewing through the eyepiece and absolutely critical for astrophotography & webcasting when using hi-spec astro-cameras.

The collimation bolts in this older C11 (Nexstar) SCT had a cross-head which required adjustment using a Philips screwdriver - not very practical and also a considerable risk of damaging the telescope specific, & expensive, corrector plate on the front of the scope.

So ..... after several design iterations using Fusion 360 I succeeded in printing the threaded bolt using tough ABS (“Lego brick”) filament inserted into a wide cap (PLA filament) - which makes adjustment in the cold & dark a doddle.

Files associated with this observation

34A2A893-1B97-4FB5-B675-FF0D47310B76.jpeg (810.6 kB)

Like this image

Dr Paul Leyland, Ron Arbour, Mr Leonard Entwisle, Jeremy Shears, Callum Potter

Copyright of all images and other observations submitted to the BAA remains with the owner of the work. Reproduction of work by third parties is expressly forbidden without the consent of the copyright holder. By submitting images to this online gallery, you grant the BAA permission to reproduce them in any of our publications.

Registered charity no. 210769
Registered company no. 117572

For more information including contact details, click here.

Our Terms of Use are here.

Our Privacy Policy is here.