Here, the problem of the study of astronomy in Chile is installed from the role of those who have surrounded the astronomers: precision mechanics, calculators and observers, as well as builders. This chapter explores the significance of materiality in technical work, challenging the marginalization of material culture in society. It advocates for a shift from idealist notions of knowledge to recognizing the importance of material mediation in disciplinary practices. Emphasizing the role of technicians and collaborative labor reveals hidden aspects of scientific production, questioning traditional narratives of innovation and the heroism of individual scholars. By examining the relationship between technicians and materiality, it reveals the importance of maintenance and repair work in sustaining scientific practice and challenges the dichotomy between intellectual and manual labor in Western history. This perspective highlights the fragility of technological systems and the necessity of constant care and attention to maintain social order.