DIY Refractor Telescope from an used fotocopier machine objective lens

Designer

Kanakazasha

Designer relation

Ingen

Kategori

Gadgets

Licens

Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial ShareAlike Creative Commons - Attribution - Non-Commercial - Share Alike

$ ↺ SA

Attribution påkrævet; kommerciel brug er ikke tilladt; ShareAlike gælder for afledte værker.

Designer commercial

None

Først set

2026-09-17 12:20

Sidst set

2026-09-18 08:20

Tags

diy telescope

Beskrivelse

DIY Refractor Telescope from an used fotocopy machine. 3D Printed Refractor Telescope - Recycled Photocopier Objective Lens (KTI Project) This project is an open-source, low-cost DIY refractor telescope utilizing a recycled photocopier objective lens (e-waste upcycling) paired with FDM 3D-printed optomechanical components. Designed and constructed by Zahid as part of a High School Scientific Research Project (KTI / Karya Tulis Ilmiah) at SMAIT Adzkia Sukabumi (2026), titled: "Rancang Bangun dan Uji Kinerja Teleskop Refraktor Menggunakan Lensa Objektif Bekas Mesin Fotokopi dan Komponen Cetak 3D". Overview & Research Background Rapid technological advancements result in increasing electronic waste (e-waste) annually, including obsolete analog photocopy machines. However, the multi-element objective lenses found in these machines feature high optical precision, flat-field correction, and excellent image clarity. This project explores scientific upcycling by repurposing a photocopier optical lens as the objective lens of an astronomical/terrestrial refractor telescope. Supported by FDM 3D printing technology, this design provides a modular, easily replicable, and precise optomechanical structure. Bill of Materials (BOM) Optical & Core Components 1x Recycled Photocopier Objective Lens (70 mm aperture, clear coat multi-element lens assembly, focal length ~450.33 mm) 1x 10 mm Eyepiece 1x PVC Pipe 2.5 inch (32 cm length) - Main Optical Tube Assembly (OTA) 1x PVC Pipe 1 inch (12 cm length) - Focuser inner drawtube 1x 3.5 inch Harddisk Platter - Used as a mirror diagonal / star diagonal reflector element Fasteners, Bearings & Hardware Inserts Screws & Bolts: M3 x 5 mm Screws / Bolts M3 x 20 mm Bolts M3 x 80 mm Bolts (for focuser gear shaft assembly) Nuts & Heat-Set Inserts: M3 Nuts M3 x 5 x 5 mm Brass Heat-Set Threaded Inserts (tapped using soldering iron) 1/4"-20 Brass Heat-Set Threaded Insert (for standard tripod mount attachment) 303 laser (for easy to point the target) Mechanical Hardware & Power Transmission: 693zz Ball Bearings (for smooth focuser shaft rotation) 3D Printing Filament & Raw Materials 3D Printing Filament: PLA+ or PETG (for main body, lens cell, focuser, baffles, and tube rings) Assembly, Finishing & Consumables Flat Black Spray Paint (Flat Black Doff) - For coating inner tube surfaces to minimize stray light reflections Cyanoacrylate Adhesive (Super Glue / Epotec G-8) & Hot Melt Glue Elecirical Black Tape & Clear Tape (6 mm width) Synthetic Silicone Grease (for lubricating printed rack & pinion gears) Compatible Tools & Mount Accessories Autodesk Fusion 360 & Bambu Studio Slicer Software FDM 3D Printer (Nozzle 0.4 mm, Layer Height 0.2 mm) Camera Tripod / DIY Equatorial Mount (with 1/4"-20 mounting screw) 3D Printed Eyepiece-to-Smartphone Adapter (for astrophotography & testing) Features & Specifications Optical System: Refractor Telescope using a flat-field multi-element photocopier objective lens (70mm diameter, 450.33mm focal length). Magnification: 45.03x theoretical magnification when paired with a 10mm eyepiece. Mechanical Structure: Modular Optical Tube Assembly (OTA) with internal stray-light baffles and printed lens cell. Focuser System: Custom 3D-printed Rack & Pinion mechanism using GT2 timing belt integration and 693zz ball bearings (+/- 70mm travel distance). Mounting: Integrated 1/4"-20 threaded insert for camera tripods or DIY equatorial mounts. Recommended Print Settings (Bambu Studio) Filament Material: PLA+ / PETG Layer Height: 0.2 mm (Initial Layer: 0.2 mm) Wall Loop: 2 to 4 walls Infill Density: 10% - 30% Gyroid pattern Seam Position: Back / Scarf seam enabled Support Type: Tree Support (Tree Slim) where required Assembly Notes Inner Wall Anti-Reflection: Coat the inside of the 2.5" PVC pipe with flat black spray paint (Flat Black Doff) to minimize stray light and preserve visual contrast. Lens Alignment: Assemble the photocopier lens elements carefully inside the 3D-printed lens cell to preserve original optical alignment. Threaded Inserts Installation: Use a soldering iron to insert M3 brass heat-set nuts into designated mounting holes. Tolerance Issues: use an layer of tape to fill the gap