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PlaneWave CDK17 Optical Tube Assembly
Capturing the most stunning astrophotographs possible is something our team is passionate about. From design to manufacture, our goal with the Corrected Dall-Kirkham (CDK) 17″ telescope was centered around performance and ease of use. The CDK17 is an incredible breakthrough in telescope technology and produces no off-axis coma and no off-axis astigmatism. Additionally, the CDK17 provides a perfectly flat field so your astrophotographs will have stunning clarity from corner to corner of the image without field curvature degrading the photos. Offering the simplicity of single-mirror collimation, the stray light control of advanced baffles, structural performance created through finite element analysis (FEA), and decades of telescope design experience, the CDK17 is an exceptional diffraction-limited telescope. CDK17 users can experience pinpoint stars edge-to-edge and a 61 x 61 arcminute field of view when using large 16803 size camera sensors. When equipment fades into the background and simply performs, the astrophotography experience becomes even more fun and rewarding!
 
  • f/6.8 and 2939mm focal length.
  • No coma, no off-axis astigmatism, and no field curvature.
  • Pinpoint stars across a 70mm image circle.
  • Rock solid fused silica mirrors with low thermal expansion.
  • Carbon fiber optical tube assembly for rigidity and fast cooling.
  • Simple secondary mirror collimation thanks to the fixed primary mirror.

PlaneWave CDK17 Optical Tube Assembly

₹2,361,600.00Price
Sales Tax Included

  • Carbon Fiber Truss Design

    Minimizes thermal expansion which causes focus shift as temperature changes during an imaging session. Carbon fiber also reaches ambient temperatures quickly and is extremely lightweight and rigid to help ensure excellent imaging data is produced.

    3D Printed Baffles

    PlaneWave uses digital 3D printing technology to produce lightweight baffle tubes. 3D printers add successive layers of material to construct a baffle system with precision positioned internal stray light baffles to minimize vignetting and maximize image contrast. Quality baffling makes an incredible difference in overall image quality, so we ensured an optimal design was created for our telescopes.

    Dovetail Expansion Joint

    Allows for the difference in thermal expansion between carbon fiber and aluminum. The expansion joint allows the aluminum dovetail to expand and contract without stressing the carbon fiber lower truss. This results in images that are not distorted due to expansion, or contraction of the optical tube materials.

    Delta-T Ready

    For added dew prevention, the CDK17 is internally wired with polyimide film heater pads and temperature sensor, which is ready to be controlled with the Delta-T via PlaneWave Interface 3 software.

    Cooling Fans

    Three fans on the backplate of the optical tube pull air through the telescope and by the primary mirror. Three fans on the side of the optical tube also blow air across the primary to ensure a boundary layer of air does not distort images. These fans help the telescope reach thermal equilibrium quickly, further reducing any distortion in images due to temperature variations. The fans are controlled by a switch on the optical tube, or can be controlled by via PWI3 software if a PlaneWave Electronic Focus Accessory (EFA Kit) is purchased.

  • Optical System

    Optical Design Corrected Dall-Kirkham
    Aperture 17 inch (432 mm)
    Focal Length 2939 mm (115.71 inch)
    Focal ratio F/6.8
    Central Obstruction 23.7% by surface area; 48.6% of the primary mirror diameter
    Back Focus from Mounting Surface 10.32 inch (262.33 mm)
    Back Focus from Racked in Focuser 7.24 inch (184 mm)
    Weight 106 lbs (48 kg)
    OTA Length 42 inch (1067 mm)
    Optical Performance 6.5 micron rms at 21mm and 9.6 micron at 26mm off-axis
    Upper Cage Carbon fiber truss
    Lower Cage Carbon fiber truss with carbon fiber light shroud
    Optimal Field of View 70mm image circle

    Secondary Mirror

    Diameter 190 mm (7.48 inch)
    Material Fused silica (quartz)
    Shape Spherical
    Coating Enhanced aluminum – 96%

    Primary Mirror

    Optical Diameter 17 inch (432 mm)
    Outer Diameter 17.5 inch (445 mm)
    Shape Prolate ellipsoid
    Material Fused silica (quartz)
    Coating Enhanced aluminum – 96%

    Lens Group

    Diameter 105 mm (4.13 inch)
    Number of lenses 2
    Coating Broadband AR Coatings (less than .5% reflected from 400 to 700nm)

    Standard Features

    Carbon Fiber Truss Design Minimizes thermal expansion which causes focus shift with changes in temperature
    Dovetail Expansion Joint Allows for the difference in thermal expansion between carbon fiber and aluminum. The expansion joint allows the aluminum dovetail expand and contract without stressing the carbon fiber lower truss
    Cooling Fans Three cooling fans ejecting air from the back of the telescope and four fans blowing across the boundary layer of the mirror surface. This helps the telescope to reach thermal equilibrium quickly. The fans are controlled by a computer if the optional Electronic Focus Accessory (EFA Kit) is purchased.

    Shipping

    Crated Shipping Weight 225 lbs   (102.1 kg)
    Crate Width 30 inch   (762 mm)
    Crate Height 37 inch   (940 mm)
    Crate Length 58 inch   (1,473 mm)

    Included Accessories

    Primary Mirror Cover To protect the primary mirror
    PlaneWave Thumb Drive Contains software and instructions for collimation and spacing the primary to secondary mirror
    12VDC Power Supply Provides power for the fans (Not included for European orders)
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