Hadley Telescope · Maff / PrintablesSource ↗

Watch: Community 114/900 mm Hadley build; use the creator documentation for assembly and mirror care

My Engineering Projects · community build · Original project source ↗

CAIBI ASSESSMENT

Hadley Telescope

CAIBI VERDICTBUILD IT

A 3D-printable 114/900 mm Newtonian reflector that combines inexpensive commodity optics with printed structure, metal rods and a simple mount.

See what the build involves Original source ↗

Build or buy?

Compare the documented build with the purchase reference.

Build it yourself

Build estimate£74–£111Source estimate · high confidenceOne telescope; basic optics and mount route

Time: Multi-day including printing; physical assembly is comparatively simple
Difficulty: 3/5
Physical processes: 3D printer · Basic hand tools · Optics

See build requirements →

Purchase reference

Buy price reference£194Sky-Watcher Heritage 130PRecorded 5 Sep 2026

Check the source for the exact model, availability and what is included.

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Build estimate is lower

What the prices cover

Current source and builder evidence consistently place the usual build around $100 to $150 depending on optics, eyepieces and mount.

Includes: Optics; Printed structure; Common hardware; Basic mount route.

Not included: Premium eyepieces; Upgraded focuser/finder; 3D printer ownership.

Build evidence recorded 4 Sep 2026. Currency conversions are approximate.

Sky-Watcher Heritage 130P is a useful bought reference for a capable compact beginner reflector, but it is not optically or mechanically identical to Hadley.

UK purchase/source reference ↗US purchase/source reference ↗

BUILD AT A GLANCE

Source view and main parts

Check the source ↗

Hadley Telescope · Maff / Printables ↗

PHYSICAL BUILD10 key parts or groups

No.	Source specification
01	114 mm diameter
02	Matching elliptical secondary mirror
03	1.25 inch eyepiece route
04	3D printed lower cell
05	Three long metal rods or the equivalent specified by the chosen imperial or metric variant
06	Single-family screw and nut hardware matching the original or official metric remix
07	Springs and adjustment hardware for the primary mirror cell
08	Adhesive and basic finishing materials
09	Stable Dobsonian
10	Optional shroud or baffle for stray-light control

Full source specifications

114 mm diameter, 900 mm focal-length spherical primary mirror
Matching elliptical secondary mirror
1.25 inch eyepiece route, with suitable low and higher power eyepieces
3D printed lower cell, centre structure, upper structure, spider, focuser and related hardware
Three long metal rods or the equivalent specified by the chosen imperial or metric variant
Single-family screw and nut hardware matching the original or official metric remix
Springs and adjustment hardware for the primary mirror cell
Adhesive and basic finishing materials
Stable Dobsonian, pipe or other suitable altitude/azimuth mount
Optional shroud or baffle for stray-light control

TOOLS / PROCESSES3 involved

3D printer
Basic hand tools
Optics

The real-world work

YOU STILL HAVE TOThe real-world work

Print and inspect the structural parts
Source and handle the mirrors
Assemble the optical tube
Build or fit a stable mount
Collimate on the real optics
Observe safely and verify focus

THE BUILD SEQUENCE

How it comes together

1Preparation

Choose the imperial or official metric route first
Use one complete hardware standard rather than mixing variants. Metric builders should start with the endorsed M4 remix and print its hardware tolerance test before committing to the full set.
AI + YOU
Source the optics before committing the structure
Confirm an actual 114/900 mm primary and matching secondary. The design depends on this optical geometry, and marketplace price or availability can vary significantly from the original low-cost examples.
YOU
Print and inspect the telescope parts
Use the creator-supplied orientations and print guidance. Clear screw holes, reject warped structural parts and verify the spider, mirror cell and focuser fit before installing glass.
YOU

2Build and assembly

Build the open optical tube assembly
Join the printed sections with the long rods, fit the primary cell, spider, secondary and focuser, and keep the mirrors protected from tools, fingerprints and accidental loads.
YOU
Put it on a genuinely stable mount
The creator now recommends established Hill, Marci or EMT remix routes and still regards a good wooden mount as an excellent option. A weak tripod or loose bearing can make good optics feel unusable.
YOU
Collimate and balance the real telescope
Align the secondary and primary optical axes, set the focuser position and balance the tube on its mount. AI can explain the procedure, but only observation through the physical instrument proves that the alignment is correct.
AI + YOU

3Configure and test

Prove it on forgiving targets first
Start with the Moon or a bright planet using a sensible eyepiece. Confirm focus, tracking feel and image quality before adding higher magnification, phone adapters, cameras or motorised tracking.
AI + YOU
Control stray light and observe safely
Add a shroud or baffle where local lights contaminate the open optical path. Never point Hadley at the Sun without a correctly engineered full-aperture solar solution; the creator specifically warns that the open frame can focus sunlight outside the nominal optical path as well.
YOU

Benchmark this project

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CAIBI adaptation · Prompt 1.0 · Project source

Prompt for Hadley Telescope

CAIBI project benchmark: Hadley Telescope
Prompt version 1.0

Help me build Hadley Telescope using the existing creator project at https://www.printables.com/model/224383-astronomical-telescope-hadley-an-easy-assembly-hig. This is a CAIBI benchmark adaptation of the project build brief, not a claim about how the creator used AI.

Project context:
- A 3D-printable 114/900 mm Newtonian reflector that combines inexpensive commodity optics with printed structure, metal rods and a simple mount.
- Build context: 114 mm diameter, 900 mm focal-length spherical primary mirror; Matching elliptical secondary mirror; 1.25 inch eyepiece route, with suitable low and higher power eyepieces; 3D printed lower cell, centre structure, upper structure, spider, focuser and related hardware; Three long metal rods or the equivalent specified by the chosen imperial or metric variant; Single-family screw and nut hardware matching the original or official metric remix; Springs and adjustment hardware for the primary mirror cell; Adhesive and basic finishing materials; Stable Dobsonian, pipe or other suitable altitude/azimuth mount; Optional shroud or baffle for stray-light control.
- Where AI helps: Interpret the build manual, Help adapt imperial and metric hardware, Explain Newtonian alignment and collimation, Troubleshoot print tolerance and fit, Help plan mount and focuser upgrades.
- Physical work: Print and inspect the structural parts, Source and handle the mirrors, Assemble the optical tube, Build or fit a stable mount, Collimate on the real optics, Observe safely and verify focus.
- Main limitation: It is not just a collection of prints. You still need suitable 114/900 mm optics, a stable mount, careful mirror installation and collimation. The open frame also admits stray light, and the creator gives an explicit warning never to point the unfiltered telescope at the Sun.

Read the source first. Use its published design, files, dimensions and parts as the baseline; do not redesign it unless a missing detail requires a clearly labelled proposal. If you cannot access a source or verify a revision, say so.

Provide one practical build package:
1. Design and files: explain the source design, link the original editable files, and identify missing files or modifications.
2. Parts and fabrication: give quantities, exact variants and compatibility, plus a cutting or printing list where applicable. Preserve source dimensions; flag anything unconfirmed.
3. UK and US purchasing: direct product links, checked dates, stock, pack sizes, taxes, delivery and regional costs. Mark unverifiable details as unknown; do not invent links, prices or availability.
4. Assembly: an ordered guide covering fabrication, fitting, wiring or software as applicable, setup, checks and troubleshooting.
5. Cost and time: separate parts, fabrication, delivery, hands-on time and machine time, with assumptions and exclusions.
6. Function and ease: a test plan for the project's stated purpose, likely difficulties, required skills and any corrections or limitations.

Keep source facts, your proposals and items needing physical verification distinct. An estimate is not a measured build result. Do not claim to have built or tested hardware. Include failed attempts and omissions. If a section does not apply, say why.

Use the source as accessed during this run and record its revision or access date. The prompt is fixed; the linked source can change.

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Benchmark results 0

No reviewed results yet for Hadley Telescope. Add the first result →

AI IN THIS PROJECT

Get AI help on this build

CAIBI · AI CAN HELP

AI can help with

Interpret the build manual
Help adapt imperial and metric hardware
Explain Newtonian alignment and collimation
Troubleshoot print tolerance and fit
Help plan mount and focuser upgrades

CAIBI · AI CAN'T DO

You still need to

Print and inspect the structural parts
Source and handle the mirrors
Assemble the optical tube
Build or fit a stable mount
Collimate on the real optics
Observe safely and verify focus

Original source AI use and prompts

SOURCEThe original project does not publish an AI prompt

The prompts below are CAIBI helpers for this build. They are not presented as instructions from the creator.

CAIBI STARTING PROMPTS

Copy a prompt for this build

Each prompt tells AI to keep the original project source as the reference and to flag anything you must verify on the real build.

Ways to take it further

AFTER THE FIRST BUILD

Ways to take it further

Official M4 metric buildWooden Dobsonian mountHill, Marci or EMT mount remixesCrayford or improved helical focuserFinder or red-dot sightPhone adapterStray-light shroudMotorised altitude, azimuth and focus experiments

More routes and resources

OTHER WAYS TO GET THERE

You do not have to follow one route.

ORIGINAL BUILDFollow the creator route

Use the published files and instructions as the baseline.

OUTSOURCE A PROCESSGet specialist fabrication done

You do not necessarily need to own every capability used here: 3D printer, Basic hand tools, Optics.

ALTERNATIVE PROJECTImageGenCam

A buildable Raspberry Pi camera designed around a Codex-assisted hardware and software workflow.

REVIEWED RESOURCES

Useful places beyond the main source

FILESHadley current Printables source

Creator-maintained project page with current files, manual, recommended mounts, remixes and build notes.

DOCSHadley assembly and use manual

Creator manual covering parts, printing, assembly, optics, collimation, balancing and the solar-safety warning.

FILESOfficial metric remix

Officially endorsed M4 metric route with full STL set, CAD and BOM plus a hardware tolerance test print.

COMMUNITYIndependent 2026 first-telescope build

Recent first-time builder reports a roughly $130 build, stable DIY wooden mount and successful Jupiter-moon observing, while discussing focuser trade-offs.

COMMUNITYIndependent long-term Hadley ownership

Owner reports using a Hadley as the main visual telescope for a year before upgrading the focuser, finder and mount-related accessories.

COMMUNITYIndependent build and cost report

Builder reports about $150 total for kit and supplies and identifies the open-frame stray-light issue that motivates a shroud or baffle.

SOURCE · CAIBI · BUILDERS

What supports the verdict

SOURCEMaff / Printables

Current Printables source, downloadable assembly manual and officially endorsed metric remix verified. The creator reports hundreds of confirmed builds and a much larger estimated installed base; multiple independent builders from 2022 to 2026 corroborate successful first-telescope use and the main practical trade-offs.

Open source ↗

CAIBIBUILD IT

Hadley is a strong example of AI helping with a physical build without being the point of the project. The source is mature, widely replicated and deliberately designed around simple hardware, while AI can help interpret the manual, adapt metric parts, troubleshoot prints and explain collimation. The actual telescope still succeeds or fails on printed tolerances, mirror handling, alignment and the quality of the mount.

Evidence: Strong

BUILDERSNo published reports yet

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What we want to know

What happened when you actually tried to make it.

Did it work?
Actual time and cost
What did you change?
What was harder than the source suggested?
Would you build it again?