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18" Truss Dob Conversion

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From this 265 lb Beast

 

To this 119 lb. truss tube dob

I purchased an 18" wooden tube dob, shown above on the left, on eBay with the plan of coverting it to a truss tube tube. My goal was to complete it in 10 weeks so I could take it to the Shingletown Star Party in Northern California. I completed the construction a couple of days before the star party and was able to take it with me for 5 nights of glorious dark sky. What a great way to break in a new scope.

Specs

Primary Mirror

18" f4.5 by Enterprise Optics. 1-5/8" thick

Primary Mirror Cell

Custom sling from original tube dob

Secondary Mirror

3.5" Protostar

Secondary Holder

AstroSystems

Spider

AstroSystems

Focuser

Moonlite CR1

Additional Information

Construction Details

Diary of the construction process

Gallery

 

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