3D Printed Alt-Az Telescope Mount with Worm Gear Fine Adjustment

A functional, sturdy, and easy-to-print Alt-Azimuth mount designed for small telescopes and spotting scopes. It features a worm gear drive system for precise micro-adjustments when tracking celestial objects, allowing smooth movement without jerking.

Tested and proven in the field – successfully printed on a Creality Ender-3 V3 KE using PLA and used to track and observe the Andromeda Galaxy (M31)!

Features

• Worm Gear Drive: Provides smooth, high-reduction micro-adjustments for fine-tuning your view.
• Durable Design: Optimized for FDM 3D printing with strong teeth profiles to carry small/medium scopes safely.
• Hardware-Friendly: Uses standard M3 and M10 hardware, simple screws, and standard bearings.

Bill of Materials (BOM) / Required Hardware

To assemble this mount, you will need:

• Screws & Fasteners:

- 1x M10 screw & nut (Main rotation axis)

- 4x M3 screws & nuts (Clamping & adjustment hardware)

• Bearings:

- 2x 12mm inner diameter bearings

Print & Slicer Settings

Tested using PLA on a Creality Ender-3 V3 KE. To ensure high rigidity and long-lasting teeth on the gears, use these recommended slicer settings:

• Material: PLA, PETG, or ASA.
• Walls / Perimeters: 4–5 wall loops (Crucial for the gears to print fully solid).
• Infill: 25%–30% Gyroid or Grid.
• Layer Height: 0.2mm (or 0.16mm for smoother gear teeth).
• Supports: Required only for steep overhangs on the cradle/base.

Assembly & Usage Notes

• Backlash & Tolerances: Please note that due to standard FDM printing tolerances and triangular thread profiles, there is a small amount of initial backlash (back-and-forth slack) when changing turning directions. This is completely normal for 3D printed mechanical drives and does not affect tracking stability or performance once engaged.
• Finder Scope / Alignment: This design currently does not include an integrated finder scope mount. However, fine control allows for easy manual alignment on bright targets.
• STEP Files Included: STEP/CAD files are provided! Feel free to modify, remix, or adjust the clamp size to fit your specific scope tube diameter.

If you print or remix this model, please post a photo in the "Makes" section! Clear skies!