TS-Optics Carbon Tube for TS - GSO 12 Inch f/5 Newtonian telescopes

TS-Optics Carbon Tube Upgrade for your GSO / Photon 305 mm f/5 Newtonian

Equip your the TS Newtonian with a carbon tube, increase the stiffness and reduce the dead weight considerably. For all owners of TS and GSO Newtonian telescopes, we offer this very special accessory.

What is the scope of delivery - what else do you need:

You will receive the complete carbon tube from Teleskop-Service. All holes for the primary mirror cell, front ring, finder holder, focuser and also spider for the secondary are already set. You can use all parts of your GSO Newton.

The advantages of carbon tubes over metal tubes:

We recommend the carbon tube upgrade especially for astrophotography. The focus drift during temperature changes due to the thermal expansion of the tube is significantly reduced. The images become sharper. In addition, the carbon tube reduces weight while being stiffer than a metal tube. This improves the adjustment stability.

The rebuilding of your telescope:

The conversion is very easy, just remove all parts of your telescope until you have the bare metal tube. Then simply install the parts into the new carbon tube. You can use the existing screws.

Safety instructions and practical tips - Drilling in carbon:

We recommend a sharp wood drill for drilling in carbon. On the one hand, the drill bits have a sharp tip, which allows them to be applied precisely, and on the other hand, the drill bit goes well through the material. Metal drills are not so well suited for carbon.

Since carbon dust is hazardous to health, we always recommend drilling outdoors only and please put on a suitable mask for drilling.

Additional info for existing GSO / TS Photon 12" f/5 Newtonians:

If you want to convert a 12" f/5 Photon / GSO Newton, then you have to twist off the front ring and the adapter ring for the primary mirror cell (end ring). Otherwise the rings will not fit into the tube, because the inner diameter of the GSO steel tube was minimally larger. We can take over this work step for you.

If you mount the primary mirror mount to the end of the tube, as with the original tube, you get a focus position of 88 mm above the edge of the tube. This is good for observation, but too little for astrophotography. For astrophotography with coma correctors you always need between 125 mm and 140 mm depending on the focuser you use. So the distance of the tube from the center of the focuser to the end is too long.

We now have 2 options:

We shorten the tube by the desired amount - we will be happy to advise you.

We take your primary mirror cell with the end ring and turn off the complete stop edge. This allows you to sink the primary mirror further into the tube. You can even realize several focus positions. That would be our recommendation. We can also gladly take over this work step for you. Alternatively, we offer the AA092-ONTC, a finish-turned end ring.

Safety informations: PDF Download