6" telescope filter tube

myminifactory

This is a filter holder for a 6 " Orion Dobsonian telescope. It can hole and thin filter material you like, from solar filters to different color blocking filters. Simply cut the filers to size and store them in stiff folders when not in use. This design allows the reuse of filter material and having only one large filter holder for all your filter needs. There are 2 designs. - First design has the bottom filter plate and tube as a single piece and will need supports added. - Second design is 2 pieces and has the bottom filter plate and tube as separate pieces that need to be glued together after printing. The tube should aligned so it is flat with the inside flat sufface of the bottom filter plate. If it is pushed too far into the the plate it will prevent the filter holder from closing completly. If that happens remove material from the tube until it is flat and even with the surface that the filter will sit on. Both designs require the top filter plate, the hinge clip and 3 tab clips. They both also need 2mm X 30mm pin of your choice for the hinge. The Clips will hold the filter holder together without the pin for the hinge. I added the hinge because I thought it would be nice to just hinge the filter open while installed on the telescope to swap or completely the filters. It is possible to leave the filter holder in place all the time and simply placing a thin durable material where the filter would be and using it as a protective cap.  Do not print the Filter Holder Assy Closed or Filter Holder Assy Open STL files they are included for assembly and  reference only. Because of the size of the telescope this will require the full close to the full 220mm of a build plate. I may try to create a holder that can be printed in pieces on a smaller build plate then glued togethere after printing. The pieces are designed to be a tight fit to prevent light leakage, to stop the clips coming off or the filter falling out when the telescope is in the horizontal position. For those reasons plus the fact that all printers print with different tolerances some sanding will be necessary to ensure the pieces fit properly. It can be printed in the color of your choice but the inside of the tube chould be painted with a matte light blocking black paint to ensure it is sealed fromm all outside light except the light you want. Also the paint should be light absorbing like the inside of the actual telescope.