ABSDBS-8" modified base - interlocking parts

thingiverse

Fatalik's telescope has been so much fun to make and use! My son and I made it to the original design, but have since added some modifications. I had trouble with the lap joints cracking in the large bottom ring, and we always hit a bump when the seam rolled over a bearing in the base. I also found the stainless hardware I was using to be hard to find in the right sizes, and kind of expensive. The solution to all of these problems was to get out the micrometer and recreate the base parts with interlocking pieces. They fit very tightly and needed a little tapping with a mallet to get them started, but the upshot is that I haven't even had to glue them! (it probably would be a good idea though). While I was at it, I simplified and enlarged the roller holders for the arms, and included a printable peg to mount the bearings on. I tested out printed bearings as well, and use a mix of real bearings and printed ones on mine. You'll also notice little bits of stick-on felt pads that you'd put on the bottom of a coaster to create just the right amount of friction.