My astronomy project:
TS130 upgrade, 130 mm f/7 APO telescope

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3: TS130 stand

It would be very practical if the telescope could stand on some sort of feet when stored indoors. These stands could also hold brackets that I need for different devices. As the design is now I have put all devices very close to the mount's RA axis to reduce the need of heavy balance weights. The guide telescope is below the main telescope and is on the risk to damage if I just put the telescope on the floor.

Stand front:

The first stand, 3D-printed with a lot of threaded holes to hold brackets, even more holes on the coming version.

Front stand mounted on the dovetail, high enough to clear the guide telescope from ground. The telescope is upside down on this photo. The back stand will be almost identical. I had to replace the nice green dovetail with a shorter one, much thicker material and sturdier.

The plan is to design a bracket and attach to the front stand. This bracket will hold the computer, a Raspberry Pi4.

Dovetail:

The stands must be bolted to the telescope in some way. I use the outer two threaded holes in the tube rings. To reach them I have to modify the bracket and cut out four openings for the bolts. Ideally I have mill down the dovetail 8 mm to come closer to the telescope, but I have already made the sink holes for the bolts so it was impossible. This new dovetail has a center to center distance between the mount holes of 170 mm.

Stand back:

Second stand is finished. On the back stand is the plan to attach a bracket for the USB hub and another bracket for the focus controller.

Second stand is finished. They fit perfect and bolted with M6 x 35 mm bolts. It will be interesting to see if these bracket are strong enough to hold the telescope. These ones are 3D-printed with PLA plastic. Nothing dangerous will happen if they broke.

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