Author: databit

StabilobloK 25  is a highly advanced project for the primary mirror cells designed for reflectors telescopes.
Thanks to the extreme semplification, the accurate construction and the high quality of the materials used, StabilobloK from NortheK is one of the best thin glasses support system on the market.

StabilobloK  25 mounted with 2″ Feather Touch focuser

Our instruments are manufactured using low-expansion thin mirrors to minimize thermal effects during observation. We provide high-tech design for the support cell, in order to avoid distortion on the primary mirror that would compromise its correction, to allow a finely controlled setup, to obtain perfect collimation under all conditions and to hold collimation as long as possible, particularly for instruments taken under darker skies.The demands of a high-performance optical set can place a high challenge to the instrument design but also to the user who wants to make the most out of it, in terms of observation, astrophotography, photometry or whatever application the instrument allows.

System of the StabilobloK 25 cell.

The StabilobloK system is a mechanical solution that is well designed, simple, lightweight, and precision engineered. The optical ad mechanical performances were equally considered to deliver the best results.
The StabilobloK primary mirror cells from NortheK are produced with high precision engineering with no compromise even for the small diameters (250 mm.) where the solutions are more cost effective. The use of modern technologies has allowed the Maxproject Team to achieve a superior quality and performance product at an affordable price.
Like many other components or the NortheK OTAs, the StabilobloK primary mirror cells are made from cast blanks which are then precisionly machined for purpose. This method of production assures optimal dimensional control to achieve the best results.
Our sensitive adjustement control system makes the most of the precision optics it is coupled to,  and it will take away  all your worries about mechanical induced problems, such as astigmatism. Our system allows optimal aligment of otical beam, with easy regulations, and keeps the aligment steady, eve for the astronomers that have to regularly travel to dark skies. Of course our cell is designed with “anti mirror shift” “anti mirror flop” systems, thanks to an axial and radial control system with 6 or 12 regulation points. The choice of 18 floating points as a support instead of a budget solution such as the central pipe, says it al about design criteria.

Primary’s superior dish with 18 floating points

The location of the 18 floating points has been studied to avoid any deformation of the optical surface. With normal software it is easy to calculate the value of such deformations. The vertex of each triangle is designed to work with 50 gr. pressure, we test each vertex one by one with an electronic tester during manufacture to make sure they are operational at 35 gr. pressure. This system guarantees a very high sensivity  of the pivoting system. Every floating joint (BWK system) is also tested under stressful conditions for several hours in order to increase its performance without changing the optimum mechanical values. There are no others mass produced for the amateur market with  the same mechanical accuracy at similar costs.

The optical alignment is carried out at the optical bench in our factory, to ensure the customer receive a system that is ready for the fine adjustements at the star test. Every StabilobloK cell has three aluminum and stainless steel transaxial systems with an inner microreducer. The precision of these systems is 0,02 mm. in the rotation direction, so that  even the pivot of the visual plane can be finely adjusted to a very small angular degree. The action pivots are made in precisionally ground stainless steel and move inside inserted technopolymer moulded self-lubrificating bushes. This is an ideal mechanical solution to enable operation in adverse conditions, and it allows smoother and fine adjustments of the optical plan without introducing any distortion. If required by the optical scheme, we can supply baffles, whose dimensions are calculated with specialist software, and diaphragms adapted to the light cone. The baffles can be made either in metal alloy or carbon fibre.

Every single cell is tested and tried out in assembly room. You can buy it separately from the telescope and in this case we will provide any modifications necessary to optimally couple, it to its partner mirror. We developed a unified cell designed that can be modified according to the final application, this is a cost effective solution permitting maximum industrial and logistic flexibility.

Rear of the primary’s dish mounting with screws

With the same attention to detail in both development and manufacture, we can customize cells up to 800 mm. and beyond, using the best alloys for the design to guarantee the best performance of the optical train.

Micrometer with 0,02 mm. accuracy for the collimation of the primary mirror

Contact us, and we will be happy to give you further information.

specifications may change without notice

Can StabilobloK evolve? The design of this component has been conceived to allow further updates and improvements.

We would like to remind you that every IMPORTANT technological improvement brings a very high cost increase.

The StabilobloK project can be upgraded not only from an aesthtetical point of view, it is also possible to improve the performance of both, its structure and accessories.

For instruments with fixed position and diameters between 500 and 800 mm. it is possible to  use more appropriate metallic alloys or specially made steels. The plans adjustement is made with an electronically controlled system the construction tolerances can be dropped down to 0.01 mm. and the thermal expansion can be better controlled with an accurate material selection.

The system for the thermostation of the glass is also more sophisticated, as it incorporates thermometric sensors, automatically controlled systems and refrigerating fluxes.

The lateral supporting systems are self-compensating, while the lower supporting points have an adjustable compensator (alternatively we can offer a more advanced solution with an electromechanical system PC controlled). In the AxyS A2 version the adjustment of the primary’s plan can be made with linear system; in this way iy is possible to re-set the back focus as many times as you want and save all the different positions in the memory. You could modify the field of full light and the necessary extraction in accordance with the characteristics of the shooting sensor and the optical train applied along the back focus. Thermometric sensors and surface refrigerating systems provide all the information to the PC wich will optimize all the configurations.

The position of the secondary mirror, that is to say its distance from the primary, is electronically controlled and can be adjusted from the PC.

The primary and secondary baffles are machined  with special instruments from a solid bar in  order to locate the necessary diaphragms with the highest precision.

For this kind of cells we can also provide special customized focus and 4″ and 5″ diameter, they are made in steel, Ergal and Titanium, motorized and PC controlled.

We do not have a catalogue for those producs as we manufacture them on customer’s request and modify them in function of the use the instrumen is conceived for.

Do not hesitate to contact: info@northek.it

StabilobloK 35 is the most advanced cell for 350 mm reflector telescopes, ideal with thin glass (35 mm) and suitable for any optical scheme.

Thanks to some highly technical improvements, this design represents the technological evolution of the  StabilobloK 25 and this cell can be considered the finest for the amateur market.  With this cell the amateur astronomer can totally avoid the problem of optics under-performing because of poor support stability.

The StabilobloK 35, as well as its smaller version (25 series), is designed to remove almost completely any mechanical element of disturbance from the optical structure of the telescope.

With a 350 mm diameter the weight of the glass is quite heavy therefore it is important to arrange its position carefully and, most of all, to make sure that it stays in place throughout the observation. For this reason the StabilobloK 35 has got a very robust mechanical structure also designed to prevent any element which could possibly introduce errors in the mirrors system.

The cell works with 18 floating points designed and made for the purpose. There are no laser or water cut parts, everything has been precision engineered from solid alloy. The design of the cell is the same as the 25 series but loads and tolerances have been adapted accordingly.

The cell has got anti-mirrorshift and anti-mirrorflop systems with a NortheK self-centering function which allows all the elements in contact with the light cone to be kept on axis. It is suitable for focuses from 2,5″.

There are 6 very strong side supports, made with a special structure which can absorb deformations on the contact points and keep the system in balance whenever the edges are not parallel.

The position of the 18 floating points has been designed to minimize the deformation of the optical surface. It is easy to determine the value of these deformations with a simple calculation program. Every vertex of each triangle can work under 50 gr pressure; they are singularly tested on the bench and made operative 35 gr pressure. Thus the system is very reactive. Each joint (BWK2 system) is put under stress for several hours in order to improve the performance keeping the mechanical values unchanged. You will not fin any other mass produced product for the amateur market with the same mechanical accuracy and cost.

The element of innovation StabilobloK 35 cell is a special system for the removal of the boundary layer from the mirror surface. This important result is achieved with the use of 3 extracting fans positioned by the mirror and 3 additional fans at the rear of the cell also assisting in the removal of the layer and the air column. Another option available is the electronic control of the extracting system  (along both the radius and the axis) which we strongly recommend to anyone pursuing the best performance in high resolution.

The setting of the optical plane is done on the production line so that when the product is delivered it is ready for the star test.

Every StabilobloK cell has got  three stainless steel and aluminium shifting systems, larger than the 25 series and with a 0,02 mm accuracy, each with a internal reducer. The activation pivots are made of ground steel and they slide inside self-lubrificating matrix technopolymer systems designed to work in all environments. The end joints are more  advanced than those of the smaller cells. In fact they are made with high precision bearings in sintered steel  and bronze, spring loaded in order to avoid any side movement towards the optical plan. Obviously the springs do not interfere in the flatness of the cell’s plates.

The cells can be personalized upon the customer’s request.

Specifications may change without notice

Can StabilobloK evolve?

The design of this component has been conceived to allow further updates and improvements.
We would like to remind you that every IMPORTANT technological improvement brings a very high cost increase.
The StabilobloK project can be upgraded not only from an aestethical point of view, it is also possible to improve the performance of both, its structure and accessories.
For instruments with fixed position and diameters between 500 and 800 mm. it is possible to  use more appropriate metallic alloys or specially made steels. The plans adjustment is made with an electronically controlled system the construction tolerances can be dropped down to 0.01 mm. and the thermal expansion can be better controlled with an accurate material selection.
The system for the thermostation of the glass is also more sophisticated, as it incorporates thermometric sensors, automatically controlled systems and refrigerating fluxes.
The lateral supporting systems are self-compensating, while the lower supporting points have an adjustable compensator (alternatively we can offer a more advanced solution with an electromechanical system PC controlled). In the AxyS A2 version the adjustment of the primary’s plan can be made with linear system; in this way iy is possible to re-set the back focus as many times as you want and save all the different positions in the memory. You could modify the field of full light and the necessary extraction in accordance with the characteristics of the shooting sensor and the optical train applied along the back focus. Thermometric sensors and surface refrigerating systems provide all the information to the PC which will optimize all the configurations.
The position of the secondary mirror, that is to say its distance from the primary, is electronically controlled and can be adjusted from the PC.
The primary and secondary baffles are machined  with special instruments from a solid bar in  order to locate the necessary diaphragms with the highest precision.
For this kind of cells we can also provide special customized focus and 4″ and 5″ diameter, they are made in steel, Ergal and Titanium, motorized and PC controlled.
We do not have a catalogue for those products as we manufacture them on customer’s request and modify them in