SkySpy: a DIY Kids Telescope

Hello, I'm Ayushmaan, a B.Tech Electrical and Electronics Engineering student. I've had this interest in space: the stars, the Moon, and everything else beyond — since childhood. As a kid, I used to create "telescopes" out of cardboard tubes, imagining that I was seeing distant galaxies through it from my roof.

That same kind of curiosity in childhood motivated this project. I wanted to create a DIY telescope for children something that appears genuine, feels thrilling, and inspires the same kind of wonder I had as a kid.

I designed the model in Fusion 360, laser-cut the body from 2.5mm MDF, and 3D-printed four detailed parts. Everything was made using the tools available in my college’s Tinkerers’ Lab, including the laser cutters and 3D printers.

It is not a high-powered telescope — an 8× binocular more like — but fine for children to learn, investigate, and enjoy while observing the little things of the world around them.

Materials:

1. 2.5mm MDF sheet (for all laser-cut parts)
2. 4 × 3D printed parts (eyepiece rings, front cap, connector, focus knob)
3. 2 × small lenses (31.50mm. 16.25mm)
4. A few rubber bands (for assembly and flexibility)

Tools:

1. Laser cutter
2. 3D printer
3. Sandpaper (for light finishing)
4. Fusion 360 (for design/editing)

I started by designing the whole telescope in Fusion 360. I wanted it to look like a real telescope but still be simple enough for kids to assemble and use.

The design includes:

1. A main body tube made from MDF parts that slot together
2. Holes and notches for the rubber bands to hold everything in place
3. Four 3D printed parts for the eyepiece, front cap, connector, and focus knob

I kept all the parts easy to cut on a laser cutter using 2.5mm MDF. Once the model was ready, I exported the pieces as .DXF files for cutting.

The goal was to make a telescope that looks cool, feels solid, and can be built quickly without glue , just using rubber bands and a few lenses.

After finishing the design in Fusion 360, I imported the parts into LaserCAD to prepare them for cutting. I used the laser cutters available in my college to execute this step.

For the 2.5mm MDF sheet, I set the laser cutter to the following parameters (these worked well for clean cuts):

1. Power: 60%
2. Speed: 15 mm/s
3. Frequency: 1000 Hz

These settings produced precise cuts for all the slots, notches, and holes, allowing the telescope to be assembled without glue — just using rubber bands.

After cutting, I lightly sanded the edges to remove any burnt marks or roughness. This ensures the pieces slide together smoothly during assembly.

💡 Tip: Keep all the parts organized and labeled — it makes putting everything together much easier.

Once the MDF parts were ready, I moved on to the 3D-printed components. I imported the 3D part designs into BambuStudio and printed them using the 3D printers available in my college.

I used blue PLA+ filament for all four parts:

1. Eyepiece rings
2. Front cap
3. Connector

Printing settings:

1. Layer height: 0.2 mm
2. Infill: 20% (enough for strength but keeps it lightweight)
3. Printing speed: 50 mm/s
4. Nozzle temperature: 210°C
5. Bed temperature: 60°C

With all the MDF and 3D-printed parts ready, it’s time to put the telescope together.

1. Arrange the MDF pieces according to the design so you know which parts go where.
2. Insert the lenses into their designated slots — one for the objective (front) and one for the eyepiece (back).
3. Add the 3D-printed parts:
4. Eyepiece rings
5. Front cap
6. Connector
7. Focus knob (for looks and minor adjustments)
8. Use rubber bands to hold the MDF pieces together. Stretch them across slots and notches to secure the structure.

Tip: You can also paint the telescope or add stickers at this stage to make it look more fun and attractive for kids — though in this version, I kept it stock.

The telescope comes together without glue, making it easy to disassemble or adjust.

Once the telescope is assembled, it’s ready to explore and play!

1. Even though it’s only an 8× magnification, it’s perfect for kids to look at trees, buildings, or the Moon and feel like real space explorers.
2. The design allows kids to assemble and disassemble easily, helping them understand how lenses work.
3. You can also use it for small educational activities, like comparing how objects look close vs. far, or counting stars in the night sky.

💡 Tip: Encourage kids to decorate their telescope with stickers or paint after assembly — it makes the toy more personal and fun.

This telescope combines play with learning, making it a great introduction to optics and curiosity about space.

Even with 8× magnification, kids can have lots of hands-on learning and fun with this telescope. Here are some realistic activities:

1. Tree & Building Observation – Look at nearby trees, rooftops, or playground equipment to see details up close.
2. Bird Watching – Spot birds in the yard or park and notice their colors and patterns.
3. Moon Phases – On clear nights, observe the Moon and try spotting large craters or shadows.
4. Outdoor Exploration Game – Use the telescope while walking in the garden or park to “explore” your surroundings.
5. Comparing Distances – Pick objects at different distances and notice how close and far things appear.

💡 Tip: Even though it’s a simple 8× telescope, it helps kids practice observation skills and sparks curiosity about space and nature.

This DIY kids telescope is simple, fun, and educational. Even with just 8× magnification, it lets kids explore nearby trees, buildings, or the Moon, and helps them develop curiosity and observation skills.

The telescope comes together using laser-cut MDF parts, 3D-printed components, and rubber bands, so it’s easy to assemble, safe, and reusable.

Making it in Fusion 360 and building it with the tools available in my college taught me a lot about design, fabrication, and basic optics.

In the future, I plan to make a more realistic version, with better lenses and an improved design for a closer-to-real space exploration experience.

Thanks for taking the time to check out my project. I hope it inspires you to build, explore, and have fun with your own telescope!