A new way to mount accessories
This week I've been designing a magnetized adapter that fits Stargraph and any shoe-based finderscope. If your optical tube is made of steel then this is the perfect way to mount Stargraph without messing up your current setup!
An early prototype of the flexible hinge
This adapter uses a hinge mechanism to gently follow the curvature of your telescope while keeping the primary accessory anchored. Built with 3 powerful magnets, it's pretty easy to move but surprisingly sturdy.
What makes this design particularly challenging is figuring out how to get the magnets inside the plastic. For an initial small-batch, I will pause the print and insert the magnets manually. It looks nice! But that's not going to work if I need to build a lot of them. Still, it's a tried-and-true method for 3D printing enthusiasts.
The hinge design is very interesting and it creates the perfect amount of support without being bulky or awkawrd. I'm planning to include this as an optional add-on during the Kickstarter campaign, so keep your eyes peeled when it goes live!