H.E.L.i.O.S. T. Solar Telescope

thingiverse

This is my refractor telescope project, a labor of love made possible by the generous donation of lenses from the Janiszewski family. The H.E.L.i.O.S. T. is a 6.5" primary lens refracting telescope designed specifically for solar observing. The basic components include two lens holders crafted from pine and a focus mount holder also made from pine. To bring this project to life, I had to determine the focal length of each lens, which required some careful measurement and calculation. Fortunately, my stomach is healing well, so I didn't have to rely on using it as a makeshift support for the cardboard during the process - that would have been a recipe for disaster! Once I had the lenses secured in place with threaded rods and nuts, I mounted them into an 8" sonotube and marked where to cut out the body. With the inside of the tube sprayed matte black to minimize errant light reflection, I peeled off the paper covering the outside and began painting it a color of my choice. Meanwhile, I started 3D printing the focus assembly parts, which were kindly provided by a user on Thingiverse (https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3586112). The parts in question included #1, #6, #7 x2, #8 x2, #9, and #10. However, I noticed that #6 was a bit loose when mated to #1, so I used blue painters tape to secure it in place. With the focus assembly complete, I moved on to printing the dew cap, which required four identical pieces. After gluing two of them together and allowing them to dry, I repeated the process with the remaining two pieces. To create a hole for the telescope's primary mirror, I carefully drilled a 4mm hole in each piece, taking care to position it 1/4" from the back edge and 1/2" from the side. I also drilled a hole in the center of one of the single pieces, approximately 3.5" from the side and 1/4" back from the edge, as well as a third hole 1/2" in from the right-hand side edge. Once all four pieces were complete, I printed the side bearings, which required an estimated 41 hours per print job. As a final note, please remember to never look directly at the sun without proper equipment in place - it's crucial for your safety. To address this concern, I've installed a solar filter film purchased from Amazon, which provides adequate protection and adds a lovely orange hue to my digital camera shots. If you're interested in building your own refractor telescope, feel free to ask me any questions you may have - I'd be happy to share my knowledge and experience with you!