Here’s a link to help:

Good Luck.

Posted by Ron T, on January 27th, 2009, at 5:45 pm. #.

I built a relector when i was young, and never measured anything. I Got a kit from edmonds scientific and ground it myself. the mirror curve was established by human error as i ground it. How is it done nowdays?

Posted by Bandett, on January 30th, 2009, at 5:25 am. #.

By the way you ask your question about the “correct curve” of the mirror, it’s clear you don’t know much about telescope making.

Fifty years ago, it used to be very common for people to make their own telescopes. Nowadays it has become very rare, because commercial telescopes have become relatively inexpensive. One result of this is that it is very hard to find the parts needed to build your own scope. Unless you have a very strong motivation to learn how to do this, and to track down the parts needed, I wouldn’t recommend building your own scope. Because the parts are hard to find, they are very expensive, and a home made telescope will cost many times more than a commercially built telescope. Labour is so much cheaper in China where almost all telescopes are made nowadays.

Posted by Geoff G, on February 1st, 2009, at 4:01 pm. #.

Edmund Scientific has a great book, ‘All About Telescopes’ that should answer every question known to amateur telescope makers. Clear skies!

Posted by Tom E, on February 1st, 2009, at 9:42 pm. #.

why?

telescopes are so cheap nowadays, and are so good, that there is no money to be saved in building one, nor will you get any performance advantage. if you need an unusual specification you can build it, but then you would know what you were doing and wouldn’t ask questions like this.

i remember seeing pictures of a 10″ f/12 scope in sky & telescope that was made for observing planets. it was huge. it was really cool.

Posted by Tina L, on February 4th, 2009, at 4:36 am. #.