[APML] A Pricing Question

[Aplanatic@aol.com]

Dear List:

A bit of a long story...

A while ago a friend of mine purchased some glass to make a Schmidt Cassegrain and then decided that he was not really interested in the optical fabrication.  So, he is sending the glass to me for grinding, polishing and figuring.  Since I have to make a bunch of stuff to finish the glass, such as an optical bench, vacuum pan, etc., I decided to make a similar one for myself.  Several good friends found out about my project and have requested a quote for a complete, finished scope of the same type.  My problem is the following:  I don't really know how to fairly price this OTA.  If you are willing to help I would appreciate it.  Here are the specs:

Type:  Schmidt Cassegrain
Clear Aperture: 11.5"
Focal Length:  80"
Primary Diameter: 12.5"
Secondary Diameter: 5"
Tube: Carbon Fiber, less than 6ppm/C TCE
Tube Diameter:  15"
Tube Length: 47"
OTA Weight: 40 lbs.

The scope will include a custom OAG/vacuum film holder assembly for 4X5 film and will cover, with less than 15% vignetting, a 3.5" diameter image circle.  The worst case RMS diameter from 400nm to 656nm is less than 8 microns at the field edge.  The OAG has a custom field flattener built in.  The corrector plate will be AR coated (single layer) and the field flattener will be AR multi-coated.  A 3" square tri-color filter set will be included.

What is this camera worth?

Please don't assume that this is an advertisement in any way.  I'm not taking orders. <g>  I'll be dong well to build three or four of these in the course of a lifetime.  Each one requires hundreds of hours to figure and test the glass alone.  If I were to make a couple more for friends I'd like to set a fair and reasonable price, or drop the matter completely.

Thanks for your comments,

Dave Rowe

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