16 inch ultra light weight telescope - version 2.0

[Chanlunlun]

Dear ATMers,

It has been a long waiting for the carbon fiber tubes. They finally arrived.

Immediately I upgraded my single pole 16 incher to a carbon fiber struss design. Carbon fiber is very light weight yet capable of bearing huge tension. A little bit high-tech taste is added to this final version of the 16 incher.

Each carbon fiber tube has a diameter of 6 mm and a total length of 1500 mm. In order to fit in the suitcase for air travel the carbon fiber tubes were cut to a length of 500 mm, and connected by PVC connectors when in use.

A top ring was also added to fix up the focuser, the single arm diagonal holder and the finderscope. The additional top ring and the 8 carbon fiber struss has a total weight just below that of the wooden single pole and the steel cables. So the total weight of version 2.0 is still below 15 kg but with the advantage of stability of struss structure.

Now I have two options at hand to choose from – the carbon fiber struss or the wooden single pole. I opt for carbon fiber (obviously).

Best regards
Chan Yuk Lun
30 June 2015

[Steve]

瘦身成功 [蔥寶恭喜樣]

[AlexWong]

fabulous

[Eddy So]

成功減磅！

[Chanlunlun]

成功減磅！

Hi Eddy,

Actually the total weight just reduces by about 0.1 kg, nothing significant.

But the outlook is vastly improved. It looks more high tech and symmetrical than the single pole design. It's being much more stable, in terms of optical alignment, than the single pole design.

[大黃傻貓GARFIELD]

Such a marvelous work of craftmanship Can't wait to see it in action.

[Chanlunlun]

Such a marvelous work of craftmanship Can't wait to see it in action.

The scope will be put to field test before departing HK. Most probably it will happen in the coming week.

Stay tuned.

[Water]

鏡神 Chanlunlun 兄：

根據香港天文台天氣預報，7月4日之後開始多雲有雨，看來短期內明晚是新製 16 吋牛反帶到 PTC 進行實地測試的最後機會。

[anyone]

[bingsze]

How about the whole dons become an carbon fiber one ?

First, you can bring it to Australia.

Second, you can reduce the weight.

[wtyu21]

Mirror God~Bravo~

[Chanlunlun]

How about the whole dons become an carbon fiber one ?

First, you can bring it to Australia.

Second, you can reduce the weight.

Carbon fiber is very expensive. It's not practical to do the total conversion.

I am now working on version 3.0 to further strengthen the structure.

[bingsze]

唔使全部都係，揾一點eddy哥同你打印出黎就0k啦

[Chanlunlun]

唔使全部都係，揾一點eddy哥同你打印出黎就0k啦

The mechanical strength of 3D printed parts may be a little bit on the low side.

Now I am wondering a hybrid design of wood + carbon fiber. Version 3.0 will soon be released, stay tuned.

[syyuen168]

Magnesium tubes can be a good alternative. It has a very high strength and yet more ductile than carbon fibre. But I do not know if you can easily get them in China.