steve000
02-05-2013, 10:17 PM
Please excuse the epic title, this is something my mind has been working on for around 2 years on and off.
I was sitting on the thinking throne today and my mind started pondering as it always does. Finally I have designed rotating rings that allow the tube of my reflector to rotate on bearings. Lowest friction, light, easy to make and most of all cheap and I mean real cheap, as cheap as you want to make it.
Before someone goes and tries to make their own I will do an instructable as I make a set for my 6" scope for dev testing.
In short it is 2 sets of hexagonal rings (circle center) with 6-8 bearings each ring allowing the tube to rotate on them. You use your already supplied rings to prevent your scope falling out, you mount bearings into your existing bolt holes so the tube rolls against bearings on both the vertical axis and horizontal axis creating a virtually frictionless but very accurate rolling surface.
The rings have a brake with adjustable pressure.
The rings are made of plywood 3 layers sandwiched together you are free to use from 12mm to 19mm ply.
The design is totally customizable and you can improve on quality depending on what you spend on what quality of material. E.g. $35 no structural ply vs $90 marine ply.
The estimated cost is around $60. Yes $60 for rings that should perform as good as the $350 Antares ones. If you were to scavenge the wood and screws all you would need is perhaps a cheap trip to bunnings for a couple of bolts and nuts and an ebay purchase for the bearings of about $10.
Things will change that's for sure, I have other projects as well so this will take some time but I have been hoarding random materials and once the bearings etc arrive from china (1 month) I can start construction. This is a project that will see completion as rotating my scopes is a major pain to me.
I have tried all sorts of wilcox rings, loosening the rings, teflon, felts etc. None have performed like I want.
At the end of the day they could be easy for me to make, I might make a few for some members if there is interest.
I was sitting on the thinking throne today and my mind started pondering as it always does. Finally I have designed rotating rings that allow the tube of my reflector to rotate on bearings. Lowest friction, light, easy to make and most of all cheap and I mean real cheap, as cheap as you want to make it.
Before someone goes and tries to make their own I will do an instructable as I make a set for my 6" scope for dev testing.
In short it is 2 sets of hexagonal rings (circle center) with 6-8 bearings each ring allowing the tube to rotate on them. You use your already supplied rings to prevent your scope falling out, you mount bearings into your existing bolt holes so the tube rolls against bearings on both the vertical axis and horizontal axis creating a virtually frictionless but very accurate rolling surface.
The rings have a brake with adjustable pressure.
The rings are made of plywood 3 layers sandwiched together you are free to use from 12mm to 19mm ply.
The design is totally customizable and you can improve on quality depending on what you spend on what quality of material. E.g. $35 no structural ply vs $90 marine ply.
The estimated cost is around $60. Yes $60 for rings that should perform as good as the $350 Antares ones. If you were to scavenge the wood and screws all you would need is perhaps a cheap trip to bunnings for a couple of bolts and nuts and an ebay purchase for the bearings of about $10.
Things will change that's for sure, I have other projects as well so this will take some time but I have been hoarding random materials and once the bearings etc arrive from china (1 month) I can start construction. This is a project that will see completion as rotating my scopes is a major pain to me.
I have tried all sorts of wilcox rings, loosening the rings, teflon, felts etc. None have performed like I want.
At the end of the day they could be easy for me to make, I might make a few for some members if there is interest.