No project is ever completely done, even one “finished” decades ago… My 6″ f/5 RFT is the current incarnation of my first telescope, Primero. Built into an 8″ irrigation pipe this ‘scope is a rich field ‘scope that is just fun to use. And yes, I worked on this telescope again.
One feature I have always meant to change is the tube rings. Simple aluminum straps that I kept loose enough to allow the ‘scope to be rotated to keep the eyepiece at a convenient angle for viewing. The issue is that in use the tube would constantly slide down through the rings throwing the mount off-balance.
I finally got around to fixing that. A set of 3D printed rings along with a stop mounted to the tube that prevented this sliding, keeping everything centered and balanced. The rings are attached to each other by the two dovetails and a handle forming a cage.
Continue reading “Rotating Tube Rings”
