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To cut
the tube for the VSC/ SAO 127mm refractor, I used a method I read
from a thread posted on Cloudy Nights by member rboe. On
this, and the next few pages, I will try to explain in detail how
this was accomplished.
Once I
determined the overall length of my telescope's main tube (35.5"
inches) via my ray trace calculations, I established a perpendicular
line around the circumference of the tube. This was done by using a
sheet of card stock and wrapping it around the main tube until the
ends overlapped. By making certain the card stock is totally flush
against the side of the tubing and lining up the top edges at the
length mark, I was able to trace a line all the way around the tube
with certainty that it was perpendicular. Next, using a large enough piece
of 3/4" inch plywood with the diameter of the tube cut out, I move
it up to the line I made previously at the tube's final length. The
plywood will be used to support the hacksaw blade during the process
of making the initial groove around the circumference of the
aluminum tubing. See how it was attached in the next slide.
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