Silver
Futuristic computer-controlled tripod for old telescope with acrylic
The Project
Tom has built a computer-controlled stand for his older telescope, which can magnify up to 700 times. The telescope frequently lost sight of stars because of the Earth's rotation. To solve this, he constructed a metal stand with computer-controlled guidance. He used acrylic for the housings of the stepper motors and electronics. Thanks to the transparent acrylic, the entire setup looks both modern and futuristic.
Step-by-Step Guide to Making This
Design your project
Cut the acrylic
Sand the sawn edges
Mount the stepper
Tools
- Waterproof sandpaper 120, 240, 400
- Computer-controlled routing table machine (CNC Router)
- Sawing machine
- Stepper motors
- Control electronics
- Hand tools
Other requirements
- Worm gear transmission
- Chain transmission
Ensure you first create a solid design in a technical drawing package like CorelDraw. Sawing causes irregularities, so lightly sanding with progressively finer grain sandpaper makes polishing to a shine a breeze. If you start with polish, it will shine, but you might end up with surface irregularities. Also, avoid budget acrylic if you plan to process it!
Ensure you first create a solid design in a technical drawing package like CorelDraw. Sawing causes irregularities, so lightly sanding with progressively finer grain sandpaper makes polishing to a shine a breeze. If you start with polish, it will shine, but you might end up with surface irregularities. Also, avoid budget acrylic if you plan to process it!
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