Alan MacIntosh became a skilled amateur telescope maker back in the 1950’s and with the resources of Stellafane and the Hayden Planetarium and created the Maksutov Club. The group spent considerable time perfecting the art of telescope making and publishing their results in a series of papers known as the Maksutov Circulars.

This book is a product of the many participants, machinists, amateur and professional opticians who have conquered many aspects of telescope building. It is a continuation of the first publication –  Advanced Telescope Making Techniques Vol 1. Optics. It should be understood that while some of the articles included in this volume apply to Maksutov Telescope building the principals and application cover a wide range of Telescope making including reflector and refractors.

Volume 2 concerns the building and testing of devices which are commonly used in optical production including spherometers, grinding and polishing machines, and drilling machines. Many of the machines or devices described can be made by an amateur telescope maker of intermediate or better experience.

Chapter 5 details an inexpensive grinding and polishing machine built on a rigid 4 legged sawhorse. A Semi-Automatic version follows as well as designs by Zeiss and plans for a modified Draper setup. Diagrams abound continuing with a discussion of a verticle spindle eccentric machine using pillow block bearings and the wring of a DC variable Speed drive. There are more examples. Clearly, the book covers enough information on the numerous types of grinding and polishing machines to cover all types of work from amateur to professional. Mirror and Lens grinding are included.

Other interesting things include how one aligns a larger reflector and the principles involved. The reader will be introduced by an article of how to make and test eyepieces including the machines that grind and polish them.

Fiberglass tube and mountings are also examined with a procedure of making such items. Of course, the author includes a brief introduction to Maksutov Telescopes too in an article written by Dianne Lucus, one of the first women to build a Maksutov instrument.

Mackintosh has included a mix of simple testing devices and information as to how to turn radii on a lathe for mirrors and lenses, being a bit more advanced. How to make setting circles and the use of a dividing head. Even if the ATM person never masters certain aspects of the book the  information is fascinating reading nevertheless

If you are an Amateur Telescope Maker you need the two-volume series Advanced Telescope Making for your library. It is very well written and provides insight and practical information on optical instrument construction. It can be a nice companion with volumes by Albert Ingalls ATM series 1, 2, 3 and Jean Texerau, How to Make a Telescope.

The volume you are purchasing is Advanced Telescope Making Techniques Vol. 2 Mechanical.

 

Editors

Alan Mackintosh
with
G. Kenneth Hakings, MD
Ferdinand I. Baar, MD

 

Table of Contents

Forward
Chapter 1. Grinding Tools
includes;
Cutting Spherical metal Tools in the Lathe
A Tile Tool For Deep Curves
Polishing Laps
Making A Pitch Lap

Chapter 2. Curve Generators, Generating, Edging, Etc.
includes;
Roughing Out A Malsutov Curve
Curve Generating in a Lathe
A Drill-Press Curve Generator
Optical Glass Edging

Chapter 3. Small Lens Work
includes;
Lens Grinding
Lens Centering Jig
Eyepiece Making
A Simple Tool for Measuring Eyepiece Focal Length

Chapter 4. Accessories for Glass Working
includes;
An Adjustable Spherometer
Five Ball Spherometer
Measuring Sagitta
Accuracy of Spherometers

Chapter 5: Grinding and Polishing Machines
includes:
An inexpensive Machine
Zeiss Type Machine
Modified Draper Grinding and Polishing Machine
A Modified Hindle Alligator for Steep Curves

Chapter 6. Making and Testing Optical Flats
includes:
Making and Testing a Plane Mirror
Figuring Optical Flats Against a Spherical Mirror
Mercury Flats
Cold Cathode Monochromatic Extended Light Source Tester

Chapter 7. Telescope Construction
includes;
Eliminating Stray Light in a Cassegrain
Designing a Telescope Drive
Collimating a Large Telescope
Making a Telescope Tube
Making a Maksutov Telescope

Chapter 8. Telescope Accessories
includes;
Barlow Lenses, Photographic and Visual
A Photoelectric Photometer
Automatic Guidance System
Making and Using Setting Circles

Chapter 9. Photography
Photographic Exposure Limits

Chapter 10. The Telescope Makers Workshop
Includes:
Anodizing for the Amateur Telescope Maker
Generating Radii in the lathe
Home Foundry
Precision Hole Location in a Drill Press
Dividing in the Lathe and a Small Dividing Head

Index