More for Rick's 12.5" Kit....

Rick's rocker box is pretty close to completion. I just need
to finish the ground board and bearing components.

Rick's 12.5" Kit . . .

Rick's rocker box sides, and altitude bearings, are nearing completion.

Michael's 10" F5 Strut with ETT Completed ...M

Michael B., from  Baton Rouge, Louisiana and his 10" F5 with
Nova Optical Systems certified mirror. Note the sky Commander and
2-speed 2" Moonlite focuser. Under the stars, this telescope
really performs beautifully. An excellent mirror!!

Now to start packaging this telescope up and get ready to ship.

Rick's 12.5" Strut Telescope Continued ...

Rick's mirror is supported by a 6-point non-flotation
mirror cell. Thicker mirrors take simple cells without
any problems. Oversize knobs make collimation easy.

Note the Telrad is supported by two clamps. The other
clamps are for the alt bearings and sliding counter weight.

10" F5 for Michael . . .

This Nova Optical Systems certified primary is a 10" F5
now with a beautiful 2-speed 2" Moonlite focuser on
its heavy duty focuser bracket.

The nice thing about these Destiny spiders is that they're
collimatable with a spring-loaded center-stalk and
can be adjusted a big along the optical axis.

A 12.5" Kit for Rick ...

A 12.5" kit for Rick in Silver City, New Mexico is underway. Here
the OTA rings are close to completion. I need to add a mirror cell, mount
the spider and focuser bracket as yet. This kit will be complete,
including optics, focuser and spider.

Bruce and his 10" F6 Telescope ...

Bruce, who also lives in Palm Desert, stopped by to pick up
his 10" F6 "Discovery" make-over. Great visit!!

Jay's Astronomical Blog

Check out Jay's Astronomical blog at http://jaysastronomyobservingblog.blogspot.com/ The telescope, a 17.5" Dobstuff truss telescope was built for him in 2014. Jay lives in Herriman, Utah.

The 17.5" Dob "Star Catcher" ready to go. 

NGC 894 a Galaxy in Cetus: 22mm T4 Nagler

NGC 1070 Elliptical Galaxy in Cetus.

10: F6 for Bruce Completed . ..

A 10" F6, a remake from a Discovery solid tube telescope, is completed. Note the Sky Commander system,  primary dew shield, Telrad and laser-point finders and "strings".

10" F6 for Bruce . . .

Bruce 10" F6 with partially completed rocker box. I mount the telescope
with all its accessories and check for balance and motion.

As compared to the original Discovery -- this telescope is considerably lighter
and easier to handle. The rocker box is much smaller as well.

The top ring, Telrad and laser "finder". The "strings" are yet to be affixed
to the telescope. Along with its longer focal -- the strings will add rigidity.

Bruce's Optical Tube Assembly . . .

Bruce's 10" F6 with the "mirror box" complete. Note the
"hooks" -- for the strings to be added later.

This telescope sports the "Easy Transport Telescope" option
(ETT). The bottom half of the struts are in place.

The "intermediate" ring re-introduces rigidity to the
OTA. The struts are 1.25" black anodized 6061 aluminum.

And, the "top half" of the struts in place.

The optical tube assembly is fully assembled, sans
the altitude bearings. Note the Telrad mount and
laser-pointer mount on the near strut.

The overall length of the struts are 55 7/8" while
the OTA, with mirror cover, weighs 31# (while the
full thickness Discovery mirror makes up 13#
on its own!! A beautiful mirror.

More on Bruce's 10" F6 . . .

The OTA is closer to completion. Here, the top ring with curved-vane spider
and JMI  focuser is in place.

With the mirror cover removed, the Discovery mirror is clear visible on its
original mirror cell. Note the Destiny spider is "collimatable" -- no need to
loosen 2 and tighten 1 collimation thumb-screw. It's spring loaded.

With all the optical elements in place, I'm able to computer
the strut length as 55 7/8". Now, with adjustable
struts -- I can test it under the stars and then
finish the OTA in a couple of days.

A photo of a telescope similar to Bruce's -- AFTER reconstruction.

And "before" reconstruction. A huge difference in weight  and size.