Re: Astrosib RC's


Chris L Peterson wrote:
On Tue, 24 Apr 2007 01:43:08 -0500, KLM <mlk@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Please explain -
Thanks.

I disagree that an RC has significantly different mechanical demands
than other designs. It does have very critical collimation requirements,
so you need things to be solid and stable, but that is true of any well
built telescope.

Figuring RC optics is a job for experts, but constructing a telescope
around them is well within the means of anybody with good tools and good
mechanical aptitude.

No, it isn't that easy, both in general terms and in specifc (to the
RCs) terms. Because positional tolerances are tighter than other
designs mechnical tolerences are tighter too and that makes the task
even more harder than already is for a Cassegrain. Because of the mass
of the primary and the centering tolerances you really want to use a
secondary focusing system on top of any you might have at the back
end, just to mention an issue that you wouldn't probably be bothered
with in a Dall-Kirkham. This said, if you feel you're up to the task
go ahead and let us see the results :)

Andrea T.

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