It is basically my own design. Sits on top of 9 poles cemented into the ground, and about 1.5 metres above the ground. I built the frame, floor, sides etc on top of the supporting poles. (all permapine), Dimensions 2.5x2.3x1.8m. In hindsight, I would have made it longer, but room where I put it was the deciding factor. I made the roof frame separate, and around its base are 6 heavy duty castors that allow the roof to fit into the top channels one the two top sides.(shown). It was damn heavy to lift up on top the 3 odd metres. I then attached the laserlite roof panels. The tracks extends out to one side and each of the 2 tracks are supported by angle iron to the front of the observatory. This is probably the only weak link, I need to make heavier duty supports, as the roof probably weighs about 100kg.
This photo probably shows it a little better.
Tried to add another photo on same post, will do it here. As you can see it looks a tad flimsy, but in reality is very strong. However I will re-engineer the supporting angles very soon. The total weight of the roof is supported via 6 castors on the entire length of the tracks, and it cant be seen here, but the tracks whilst they are timber are re-inforced with aluminium angle the whole length with aluminium strap on the base of the channel for the castors to roll on.
Paul,
I'm currently making a 3D weight system for the scope which will have full length travel and then vertical adjustment, I made the brackets for the guide scope which work quite well and compared to the price of an original Meade item I think it's time well spent.
I'm also making a stainless steel dew shield 1.6mm very thin and very strong professionally rolled and welded then painted in Meade blue (helps being a spraypainter to match the colour), will cost about $150 not bad compaired to Meades $460 out of Bintel.
Thats enough waffle just thought you might like to see a shot of the observatory so far, the pier is 220mm steel, the roof and top half of the walls slides East and West, should be complete about this time next week all going well
Hope it's clear over your head
Mick.
Just started to make a nuisance of myself in these forums and thought you might like a laugh. I don't have a real scope yet but dug out my old Bushnell, made up a mount for my camera tripod and voila I can see Jupiter with 4 of it's moons and Saturn with it's rings all at 25x mag. Who says you need to spend money to have fun. Attached is combined image of the Bushnell and a shot of the moon (it's a bit cloudy tonight) handheld through the bushnell.
Last edited by acropolite; 20-03-2005 at 01:33 PM.
8" F/7 Dobsonian, homemade mount.
2.3m Domed Observatory, bit close to shed, may have to move it later when the wife lets me. It's actually painter black inside and now has a shutter that works. Turning it is a chore might need help with this one.
Here's my stuff. The two grey tubes are my homemade collimation devices. One is a crosshair sight tube and the other is a collimation-less laser collimator. It utilises a lens-less $4 laser pointer to provide a wide angle point source. I think it's pretty much a cheshire because it relies on the centering of the shadow of the centre dot.
Courtesy of this website: http://web.telia.com/~u41105032/yacht/yacht.htm
The scopes are:
10" GSO Dobsonian with rack and pinion focuser and no fan (good price).
60 mm Tasco refractor.
And those funny looking round things at the bottom end of the scope are counterweights I made out of Speaker Magnets. I have turned one upside-down so you can see the thin rubber attached so they don't scratch the tube.
Hey Ken....that scope looks wonderful !!!...must be nice standing outside with just a shirt on while i freeze me bloomin arse off out here in Canada !!!...hahahahaha ....nice counterweights no need for anything but magnets !!!.....very impressive indeed !!!..I would LOVE to know where I can get a hold of a crayford-style focuser like yours because the one that I have is stock and it can't take the weight of my naglers .
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Markus
12" GSO SCOPE
not used to dial up users...
