Hybrid
Mirror Support Structure |
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Initial prototype mirror will weigh ~1/4 that of conventional
glass. |
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Sample
surface using new fabrication technique |
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A business card sitting atop a carbon fiber part just
pulled from the tooling. |
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Click on the photo to see more examples and information
about this amazing carbon fiber surface. |
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The world's first standard product line of optical
tube assemblies using carbon fiber so extensively. |
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Low CTE, high stiffness/lower flexure, high strength
& toughness and ultra-lightweight. An unbeatable combination
of properties for any opto-mechanical system. |
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3
sandwich-cored graphite-epoxy mirror cells. |
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The world's first production line of optical subassemblies
made from advanced composites. |
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"I was impressed with their light weight and stiffness
- seeing a picture of it is one thing, but actually getting your
hands on the real deal is an eye opener. I'm excited about how
the scope will turn out!" - 16" Astrograph
client commenting on yoke samples he received from Dream 12/6/05. |
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An
8" Maksutov-Cassegrain f12. |
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This OTA debuted at NEAF 2005. |
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UPDATE:
6/9/05 |
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A
12"
OD
x 49.5" honeycomb core, graphite-epoxy tube that weighs
<6.4 lbs. |
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This tube was
used for a 10" f5 Newtonian astrograph. |
First light took place at the end of June, 2005. |
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"...after working
with a Newtonian with a Carbon Fiber tube, I would never want
to use anything else. The lightweight, thermally stable aspects
are too great to ever go back." |
Rick Yandrick - July 16th, 2005 |
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12.5"
conical primary. |
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To learn more about the OTA for this primary, click here. |
The first carbon fiber truss tubes have been fabricated
as well. |
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Graphite-epoxy
primary mirror cell. |
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"I
had the pleasure of holding your 8" mirror cell. Very
incredible! Astoundingly stiff. Astoundingly light. Can you build
a fork mount...?" 1/7/05 |
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