Most amateur telescope makers (ATMs) stick to parabolic mirrors because lens making is perceived as insurmountable. Remer acts as a "coach," guiding readers through every step using common tools similar to those used in mirror making.
Mastering the specific strokes (normal, over-center, and chordal) required to achieve a spherical surface.
While Remer’s techniques are fundamentally sound, modern advancements in materials, testing, and coatings allow for significant improvements. Here are 12 modern refinements ("12 new" techniques) often discussed in modern ATM circles:
While a full PDF is not legally hosted on common public sites, you can find the physical book and its catalog records through these sources: Digital Lending making a refractor telescope norman remer pdf 12 new
You cannot fix what you cannot measure. Remer emphasizes rigorous testing methods that can be built cheaply at home. This includes using a Foucault tester, Ronchi screens, or Newton’s rings (interference fringes) to check the matching curves between the crown and flint elements down to fractions of a wavelength of light. 4. Cell Design and Mechanical Alignment
High alignment tolerance makes mechanical cell construction much easier.
Testing a lens is inherently different from testing a mirror because light passes through the glass rather than bouncing off it. Remer covers: Most amateur telescope makers (ATMs) stick to parabolic
: A resource for checking availability in digital or physical lending libraries. Cloudy Nights Forum
While building a Newtonian reflector requires grinding just one curved surface (the primary mirror), building an achromatic refractor requires grinding and polishing (two surfaces for the crown glass element, and two for the flint glass element). These elements must align perfectly to correct for chromatic aberration—the annoying color fringing that happens when different wavelengths of light bend at different angles.
Unlike a mirror which has one optical surface, a doublet lens has four surfaces (R1, R2, R3, and R4) that must all be ground to precise, calculated curves. This includes using a Foucault tester, Ronchi screens,
You will not find a legitimate, free PDF of Norman Remer's Making a Refractor Telescope online. The book, while out of print, is a copyrighted work from a reputable publisher. The copies you might find on file-sharing sites are illegal and often unreliable. My mission here is not to point you toward a pirated copy but to show you how to legally and effectively use Remer's work to achieve your goal.
A telescope is only as good as its focuser. For a high-f-ratio refractor, a 2-inch Crayford or Rack-and-Pinion focuser is recommended. Ensure the drawtube is long enough to reach focus with various eyepieces but doesn't vignette the light path. Finding the PDF and Resources
: Reliable used options are often available from AbeBooks or Biblio.com .
