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Old 27-10-2016, 09:30 PM
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Cosmic (Daniel)
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Basteroid Observatory

Hi all, after suffering in the light polluted suburbs...I made the move and relocated our little family to the scrub, where everyone is so much happier If anyone tracks back on the threads I have posted..lets say I fixed my street light problem.

I have currently just commenced building the pier. I managed to grab a this pier from a tip shop for $50, steel suppliers wanted way to much even for off cuts. This is a 6mm steel pipe cut down to 1300mm with a 15mm base plate. I was so lucky to stumble across this in the yard, as the owner didn't think he was going to be able to help me.


Once I have decided where I'm setting up my life long passion, then the concreting begins. I'll be updating as I go so stay tuned

If you wondered what Basteroid meant..well Baster is my last name and a few blokes at work have called me this since the day I've taken on this hobby.
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Old 27-10-2016, 09:53 PM
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h0ughy (David)
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Good start
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  #3  
Old 28-10-2016, 02:27 PM
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Nice! You are gonna have heaps of fun
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Old 28-10-2016, 02:54 PM
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Nice..
But, why such a long screws for base plate?
All adjustments can be done with settings screws already provided with the mount.
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Old 28-10-2016, 05:16 PM
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Cosmic (Daniel)
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Thanks Dan, David and Bojan.

I know what you are saying, but that extra plate helps with leveling it near on perfect. Plus I have big hands so tighting the bolt under the eq6 required that height from the base plate to do so.
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Old 28-10-2016, 06:42 PM
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No need for perfect leveling.
You can always use hex (M10?) bolt and spanner, so no need for space for big hands...
Or, you could have cut a hole in pipe for that purpose.
Problem is, those long screws do not help with stability and rigidity.
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Old 29-10-2016, 09:19 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bojan View Post
No need for perfect leveling.
You can always use hex (M10?) bolt and spanner, so no need for space for big hands...
Or, you could have cut a hole in pipe for that purpose.
Problem is, those long screws do not help with stability and rigidity.
I just made this years ago and never gave it a second thought, but I will be tightening this birdcage up now. Thanks for pointing that out
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Old 29-10-2016, 10:48 AM
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This is how I did it..
It is also a compromise - pipe is a bit too small diameter to my taste, but it is stable enough.
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ght=pier+shape
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Old 29-10-2016, 07:15 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cosmic View Post
I just made this years ago and never gave it a second thought, but I will be tightening this birdcage up now. Thanks for pointing that out
You'd be better off cutting the thing off completely. They seriously compromise structural rigidity.
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Old 30-10-2016, 11:52 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bojan View Post
This is how I did it..
It is also a compromise - pipe is a bit too small diameter to my taste, but it is stable enough.
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ght=pier+shape
I see, that looks like a solid setup. The support fins on the side would help a lot with that pendulum effect I would imagine. Cheers

Quote:
Originally Posted by el_draco View Post
You'd be better off cutting the thing off completely. They seriously compromise structural rigidity.
I'm currently looking at the best way to redesign it. Doesn't change the fact the NEQ6 is held on by a small central bolt, that really needs to be super tight to stop any nano moments. But when all is said and done I have seen some cracking images with some not so stable looking pier designs. Stability was never a problem with this setup in the first place, but then I never built an obs for it. I'll do what I can to make it as solid as possible, because your both right, they're just too long.
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Old 30-10-2016, 12:45 PM
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Quote:
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I see, that looks like a solid setup. The support fins on the side would help a lot with that pendulum effect I would imagine. Cheers



I'm currently looking at the best way to redesign it. Doesn't change the fact the NEQ6 is held on by a small central bolt, that really needs to be super tight to stop any nano moments. But when all is said and done I have seen some cracking images with some not so stable looking pier designs. Stability was never a problem with this setup in the first place, but then I never built an obs for it. I'll do what I can to make it as solid as possible, because your both right, they're just too long.
Daniel there us a UK supplier that makes a nice machined adaptor puck for pier mounted NEQ6s. I have resisted spending the money on it but find that using the top section of the Skywatcher Extension Pier works really well at supporting the mount on the pier cage plate.
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Old 31-10-2016, 05:19 PM
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Looks good Daniel, i also use the top plate of the Skywatcher extension pier for the pier i had made, works ok, when i can afford i will get a more solid plate made
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/a...e.php?a=203169

How far bush have you gone?
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Old 01-11-2016, 08:52 AM
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Thats not a bad option, I have till the lockup stage to work something out. All my money and time is just going into getting this up before it buckets down.

Hey George, Im on Kostka road..the improvement is astronomical Absolutely over the moon, I just need to get building now.
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Old 06-11-2016, 01:45 PM
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Update: Pier footing complete. Hole is 800x800x700 deep. Storm finally got me, but the concrete had set enough by then.
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Old 23-12-2017, 09:30 PM
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Hi all,

We are now making progress

Not too long now.

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Old 02-01-2018, 10:54 PM
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Roof
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Old 02-03-2018, 08:57 AM
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Looking good Daniel, if only the bloody rain would stop.
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Old 02-03-2018, 10:20 AM
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That is excellent.
With your long bolts how about welding little triangle braces.
Alex
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Old 11-10-2018, 02:04 PM
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Awesome..... do you have any current pics of the completed obs?
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Old 11-10-2018, 02:28 PM
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Very cool - I bet you get dark skies up there.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cosmic View Post
If you wondered what Basteroid meant..well Baster is my last name and a few blokes at work have called me this since the day I've taken on this hobby.
For one second I thought you were taking on strongmanmike. Wrong kind of assteroid.
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