Palomar Hale Telescope

thingiverse

Human: This is a scale model of the Palomar-Hale 200" telescope, printed at 1.5x the original size to create a 1:100 scale replica. The intricate details of this telescope are now within reach. We scaled up the model from its original size to make it easier to work with. As part of our efforts to provide educational resources, we created this 3D model for teaching purposes. The Observational Cosmology Laboratory at University of Illinois developed this model as a tool to demonstrate various types of telescope mounts and pointing systems. The base plates should be attached firmly to the pillars using glue. We chose transparent grey acrylic for our base plate. To assemble the model, please refer to the exploded view provided for guidance on which parts fit together where. Note that some parts require duplication; the exploded view will help you identify which ones. More information about Palomar Observatory can be found at http://www.astro.caltech.edu/palomar/about/telescopes/hale.html. We designed this model to print on an Ultimaker 2, but it should work with other printers as well. For optimal results, we recommend a medium or high resolution setting and 20% infill. This model consists of nearly 20 parts, making it a bit challenging to assemble. However, the most difficult part is the yoke. If you're having trouble building this model, please don't hesitate to reach out to us for guidance. We'd be happy to help! After printing, we added some visual contrast by painting certain parts grey. A light sanding was all that was needed as a finishing process. For extra detail, we incorporated laser-cut and spray-painted ladders into the design. These can be easily made if you have access to a laser cutter. We created this model in SolidWorks using Selden E.B.'s generously provided 3D model as our starting point. Several students from our astronomy and physics courses learned SolidWorks while helping us recreate these parts.