Build Your Own Telescope (Refractor/Customizable)

Build your own functional refracting telescope using 3D printed parts and the Astromedia Plumber’s Telescope optics kit (30x magnification).

This model is part of the Build & Explore – DIY Science Kits collection and is designed as an educational, hands-on introduction to basic telescope optics, mechanical design, and assembly. 

All essential mechanical parts are included, together with an OpenSCAD parametric source, allowing you to customize the design for other lens sets if you do not have the exact Astromedia kit. 

The main structural component of this telescope is based on my Customizable Pipe / Tube (Single Sleeve) model.

If you like modular functional and STEM projects, follow for upcoming models.

Features

• Designed for Astromedia Plumber’s Telescope optics consisting of:
  • objective lens 40 mm in diameter with 450 mm focal length
  • two eyepiece lenses, each 8 mm in height, 15 mm in diameter with 15 mm focal length
• Modular tube system design
• Simple assembly: the 3D printed modular tube system + lens set assembles into a functional telescope (with 30x magnification)
• Educational and workshop-friendly
• Parametric OpenSCAD source included, which allows you to customize clearances and lens parameters if needed

Benefits for learning

• Understand how a refracting telescope works
• Explore focal length and magnification
• Learn basic optical alignment
• Combine 3D printing with real optics

Telescope assembly

The modular tube system allows the telescope to be fully assembled and disassembled as needed. The whole assembly kit fits into a box of about 10 cm x 10 cm x 20 cm. You can print such a box using my Rectangle Gift / Storage Box (Customizable) post. You can also generate customizable end caps, using my Customizable End Caps – Text & Symbols.

Notes on fit and clearances

• The modular parts should fit together quite tightly, as the assembled telescope needs to remain robust under various inclinations  - a clearance of 0 worked best for me (tube_inset_clearance = 0; all parameters were tested on my A1 mini)
• The eyepiece lenses are press-fit into the eyepiece holder, therefore the clearance between the lenses and the bore should be small, but not so small that one cannot press the lenses out again - 0.1 worked best for me (eyepiece_lens_inset_clearance = 0.1)
• The objective holder - objective lens fit clearance can be a bit wider - 0.15 worked well for me (objective_lens_clearance = 0.15)
• A clearance_test.3mf file is included so that you can check whether these clearances work for you as well or whether you'd want to change them (using the included OpenSCAD code / Customize button). The clearance_test.3mf file also includes the threaded parts, so you can check how those fit together.

Assembly instructions

Here’s what the assembly looks like in practice:

What you can customize

Note: be patient with the rendering time 🙂

📂 This model is part of my 3D model collections.

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