The Planewave CDK14 is an innovative solution for unsurpassed astroimaging quality at an affordable price. The CDK (Corrected Dall-Kirkham) Optical Design is an innovative solution for unsurpassed astro-imaging quality at an affordable price. The CDK telescope design provides excellent imaging with large format CCD cameras while remaining superb for visual use. The CDK design far exceeds the off-axis performance of most commercial telescope designs including the Ritchey-Chrétien design.

This no-compromise design is unique in making the optical alignment forgiving and collimation very easy. This guarantees the user the best possible performance from the telescope. The end result at the image plane of the CDK design is no off-axis coma, no off-axis astigmatism, perfectly flat field (no off-axis defocus). The CDK design will give you pinpoint stars from the center to the corner of the field of view.

• Fused Silica Mirrors with no coma, off-axis astigmatism, or field curvature.
• 70mm tack-sharp image circle
• Can be used for imaging and visual work. 
• Easy to collimate secondary mirror.
• Carbon Fiber Truss Tube
• 3D Printed Baffles
• Dovetail Joint Expansion
• Delta-T Ready
• ** This model does not include a focuser, please be sure to research your focuser options and choose the best for your application. 

Fused silica mirrors offer a highly stable optical substrate, making the mirrors less susceptible to being affected by temperature fluctuations.  This in turn reduces the need to refocus during long imaging, viewing or tracking research sessions.  

Every mirror at Planewave undergoes a rigorous process of figuring, testing and inspection to ensure excellence in performance.     Using a custom metrology measurement system, a precision surface wavelength map is created for every mirror and each stage of the manufacturing process.    That map is then utilized by a high precision robotic figuring machine to further smooth and correct any minute errors found in the mirror that might have naturally occurred during the initial manufacturering processes.  This testing is done again after the final figuring stage along with mounting in the support cells and inspection.  Testing is done again at the final assembly of the telescope in a temperature controlled environment, as a complete system with mirrors working in tandem.  

Open truss tube design with carbon fiber frame minimizes thermal expansion which causes focus shift with changes in temperature. Carbon fiber truss design also promotes quick thermal cooling and provides a rigid, lightweight structure.  

Using 3D printing technology, Planewave is able to produce a lightweight successive layers with highly precise positioning to minimize stray light and vignetting while maximizing contrast. 

To provide additional thermal expansion stability, the CDK17 is equipped with an expansion joint to account for the different expansion rates of the carbon fiber trusses and the aluminum dovetail.  

Pre-wired internally with polyimide film heater pads and a temperature sensor, the Planewave CDK14 is ready for Delta-T installation upon delivery.   Control the dew prevention with Planewave's Interface 3 software.  

Three rear mounted fans pull air through the optical tube near the primary, helping the telescope reach equilibrium quickly and reducing image distortion.  Fans are controlled with a switch on the optical tube, but can be remotely controlled with PWI3 software when the optional Electronic Focus Accessory is added.  

Planewave Instruments CDK telescopes are warrantied from defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one year for the optical coatings and two years for mechanics and electronics from the date of delivery.