At Orion Optics we are always striving to improve our products and, the recent introduction of Carbon Fibre Tubes has added a new dimension to our product ranges. Incredibly strong, resistant to damage, virtually zero expansion characteristics, made with military specification materials, they offer an excellent material for the manufacture of high end telescope tubes.
Carbon Fibre Composite tubes are made by a combination of complex processes involving many operations and the use of tremendously expensive mandrels (moulds) to ensure regularity of size and thickness. The process, briefly, requires several layers of carbon fibre composite material, impregnated with clear epoxy resin, to be internally ‘rolled’ around the mandrel mould. The CFC is then put under pressure by placing in a special vacuum bag, which, when evacuated, exerts 14lbs per square inch on the outer surface of the CFC. The whole combination is then put into an autoclave (oven) and heat gradually applied whilst the CFC is still under vacuum. This adds a further 120lbs per square inch to the CFC laminates.
The resultant finish is a full gloss with no visible pinholes or roughness. The only residual external tell tale on the tube surface is a faint line where the moulding mandrel’s seam occurs. We position this faint seam to be virtually unnoticeable in all our telescopes by positioning it so as to be away from visibility or, hidden completely under a dovetail plate etc. In the longer tubes in these ranges we have fit a reinforcing ring towards the mirror end of the tube. To this we have fitted a handle which allows the telescope to be re-positioned and manoeuvred much easily and safely.
We hope your recent or expected purchase of any of our CFC tube telescopes gives you as much please as possible in the coming future.
Cleaning your tube couldn’t be easier. Just wipe with a water moist cloth and then buff with a dry, lint free one. Avoid the use of any solvents or polishes as they can contaminate parts of your telescope.
Orion Optics
March 2009
