Orion 6" Dobsonion Telescope Filter Holder

thingiverse

I crafted this to hold the thin solar filter membrane securely in place. It is designed to fit snugly inside the telescope tube, just like a cap would, with an Outside Diameter of 170mm. Once printed, I will insert the filter membrane onto the Lower Hinge Plate and close the hinged Top. Then, I'll install the clips on the 3 tabs and the hinge to secure everything tightly in place. I'm hoping this contribution will be useful for someone in this fantastic community. Updated April 1, 2020: A new version has been created with a Hinge added for easier alignment when inserting the filter membrane. With this addition, it was necessary to separate the tube from the bottom plate to save filament (printing as one piece would require an extensive support system). As such, you will need to glue the tube into the Bottom Hinge Plate, ensuring the tube is flush with the surface on the inside of the hinge. The tube only passes through the Bottom Hinge Plate. The hole for the hinge pivot is 2mm in the design but can be reamed out slightly larger as needed if required. The Clips should fit snugly (some sanding of the tabs may be necessary to ensure a tight fit) and simply push on, allowing you to remove them and change the filter membrane easily. This way, only one holder is needed for different filter membranes. The hinge addition led me to create 5 distinct parts: Print Method Without Supports: But Requires Glue: • Print 1 Filter Cap Top Hinge Plate • Print 1 Filter Cap Bottom Hinge Plate • Print 1 Filter Tube • Print 1 Hinge Clip • Print 3 Tab Clips Optional Printing Method If Supports Are Not an Issue for You, Requires No Gluing: • Print 1 Bottom Hinge Plate with Tube (will require supports) • Print 1 Filter Cap Top Hinge Plate • Print 1 Hinge Clip • Print 3 Tab Clips DO NOT PRINT: These Files Serve as Reference Images for Assembly: • Filter Holder Assy Open • Filter Holder Assy Closed