Hadley Neumo Telescope

I liked the concept of Maff's Hadley telescope, but the design of the seemed a bit clunky. I started from scratch and re-designed every part to use metric screws, threaded inserts, and a cleaner, more cohesive design language. Read through that original Hadley project before making this. All warnings and advice will apply to this project too.

** If you're starting a new build I highly recommend using the magnetic version of the main bodies.

What's different from the original Hadley?

• Cleaner, unified design language (in my opinion)

• Uses all metric hardware

• Uses all standard size screws and springs

• Uses threaded inserts instead of nut slots

• Simplified BOM: five types of screws, one type of spring, two types of threaded inserts

• Defined interfaces and templates to easily develop accessories and custom parts

• Easily removable rocker and sights allow the telescope to easily disassemble the telescope for travel or storage

What hasn't changed?

• The core Hadley concept: a solid telescope you can build yourself with a 3D printer, off the shelf hardware, and a little bit of DIY spirit.

• Tube sizes and spacing (maintains compatibility with all existing accessories)

• Focus interface hole spacing and pattern

• Same rocker profile and spacing (maintains compatibility with all existing mounts)

Notes on printing

• All print files are designed and oriented to print without any supports.

• Each file has a prefix for the recommended filament color. The telescope is designed with a primary/accent color scheme in mind. Files with “[a]” in the filename are recommended to be printed in your accent color (red for mine) and files without a prefix are recommended to be printed in you base color (silver for me).  Some parts should be printed in black to reduce light reflection. These files have a “[b]” in the filename.

• The files include a test block that contains all the critical dimensions of the telescope. You may want to print this first to check your printer settings, hardware size, and hardware fit.

Bill of Materials

The BOM for this project can be found in the assembly manual.

Other Models to Check Out:

Adds magnetic dust cover, accessory mounts, and magnetic sights. I highly recommend using these parts:

To combines the main bodies and blackout sleeves into one part for easier printing and assembly:

To partially or fully enclose the telescope to prevent light leaking and eliminate stray light:

Change Log:

• 3/29/2026

  • Corrected the rocker bearing surface diameter to better match the original Hadley's imperial (3") dimension

• 1/27/2026 (Paul's Patch)

  • Corrected the spacing between rocker flanges to match the original Hadley

  • Added a simple shim to correct this issue without needing to fully re-print the rockers

  • Corrected typo in instruction manual

• 5/11/2025 (Small Update)

  • Added a test block file to check hardware and printer settings

  • Added new spider, rocker, upper knob, and lower knob variants

  • Added arrows to the rocker to measure telescope angle (Requires a base with an altitude scale)

  • Added a rigid accessory attachment point to UTA body. Useful to attach accessories (finder scope, cell phone, etc.) inline with the telescope and more rigidly than if mounted on the tubes.

  • Added name tags to personalize telescope and fill the rigid accessory attachment point if not being used.

• 9/26/2024

  • Removed chamfers from blackout sleeves for easier printing

• 4/23/2024 (Magnetic Update)

  • Major changes to the magnetic body parts. Not so much to these files.

  • Tweaked sight and accessory dovetail geometry slightly

  • Added more upper and lower knob variants

  • Added a straight spider option and thick versions of both spiders

  • Added STEP files with template bodies for the CTA blocks, upper knobs, lower knobs, dovetail and magnetic accessory mounts

• 12/21/2023

  • Small updates to assembly guide

• 11/15/2023 (Alignment Update)

  • Major rework of mirror alignment systems to adjust without hex keys

    • Reworked LTA to adjust primary mirror with knobs instead of an allen key

    • Simplified spider and secondary mirror cell and reworked to adjust with knobs

    • Updated rockers to attach with M5x12 screw

  • Reworked assembly guide

• 11/9/2023

  • Added feet and cap models for 12mm OD tubes with 1mm wall thickness

• 10/6/2023

  • Added STEP files

  • Added parts for 12mm tube accessory clamps

• 10/1/2023

  • Initial release