There are a lot of pages dedicated to Amateur Telescope Making (ATM). The only difference is, this one is mine. That's me on the right. My name is Al Francis. On the left is Ron Newman, my business partner, and more importantly, my best friend.

The photo was taken at the 2000 Stellafane Convention. The telescope took second place in Mechanical Design. It is a 12½", f/6 reflector in a Split-Ring Mount. Construction took 25 months and the total cost was well under $1000.00.

The following pages highlight the construction features that went into building this telescope. They are not intended to be detailed instructions.

Click on a link below to learn more:

• Design criteria.
• Mirror making.
• Mirror cell with electric collimation.
• Rotating Optical Tube Assembly, lower cage.
• Upper cage with homemade focuser and reflex sight.
• Ball and socket truss connectors.
• Mount.
• Electronics.