March 29, 2026
Description
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.
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
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)
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.
The BOM for this project can be found in the assembly manual.
Magnetic Accessories - Hadley/Hadley Neumo: Adds magnetic dust cover, accessory mounts, and magnetic sights. I highly recommend using these parts.
One Piece Hadley Neumo Bodies: Combines the main bodies and blackout sleeves into one part.
Light Shroud: Parts to partially or fully enclose the telescope to prevent light leaking and eliminate stray light.
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
License:
Creative Commons — Attribution — Noncommercial — Share Alike