Spent the last couple of nights trying out my new 8 inch binoscope build. I decided on an F5 focal ratio as I can get away without using coma correctors and the scope is relatively compact. Each side is a stand alone scope which is collimated as you would any newt, and then co collimated using vertical and horizontal adjustment knobs.I was surprised how easy it was to merge the image. Interpupil distance is set using two focusers and focusing is done with a pair of helical focusers. I'm using a pair of 24mm panoptics and 16mm T5 eyepieces so the system is set up for these. Had a chance to look at the LMC & SMC, 47 tuc, NGC 253 and the orion neb and was impressed with the quality of view. I have a BT100 scope, but an 8 inch bino is at another level, the view of the orion neb especially had the 3D effect and the amount of detail compared to mono was very noticeable. There will be a better primary cell with front collimation, focuser board, a two vane spider and baffles around the primary and secondary mirror which I'm working on at the moment, but the bino as is works better than I expected.
Looks an excellent design and build, gladdens the heart to see that there is still ATM designs and builds happening. It does help having more off the shelf items at more affordable levels.
Love the thought and engineering that has gone into the binoscope, one of these days !!!!!!!!!!!
Spent the last couple of nights trying out my new 8 inch binoscope build. I decided on an F5 focal ratio as I can get away without using coma correctors and the scope is relatively compact. Each side is a stand alone scope which is collimated as you would any newt, and then co collimated using vertical and horizontal adjustment knobs.I was surprised how easy it was to merge the image. Interpupil distance is set using two focusers and focusing is done with a pair of helical focusers. I'm using a pair of 24mm panoptics and 16mm T5 eyepieces so the system is set up for these. Had a chance to look at the LMC & SMC, 47 tuc, NGC 253 and the orion neb and was impressed with the quality of view. I have a BT100 scope, but an 8 inch bino is at another level, the view of the orion neb especially had the 3D effect and the amount of detail compared to mono was very noticeable. There will be a better primary cell with front collimation, focuser board, a two vane spider and baffles around the primary and secondary mirror which I'm working on at the moment, but the bino as is works better than I expected.
Thanks Graham, Jeff and Matt. Tried it out last night after a few modifications and all works okay. Building this has been a quick learning curve in Binoscopes, a few issues came to light which I never thought of, all the planning and assumptions I had quickly changed as this build progressed. I added a unity finder to it today.
Thanks Steve, the mirrors are always above shoulder level when looking into eyepieces. Hi Dean,the first version of this scope had 2 solid tubes and was very heavy and had too much play in it to hold collimation well, every time the scope was moved to another position,I had to co collimate it. This version holds Co collimation through the whole range of movement.
Oh dear, I have two 8" tube units and the helical focusers waiting for me to design and build some form of assembly so I can have my binocular - looking something like this Gus. Seems it might be more of a challenge than I imagined Eric
Quote:
Originally Posted by GUS.K
Thanks Steve, the mirrors are always above shoulder level when looking into eyepieces. Hi Dean,the first version of this scope had 2 solid tubes and was very heavy and had too much play in it to hold collimation well, every time the scope was moved to another position,I had to co collimate it. This version holds Co collimation through the whole range of movement.
Hi Eric, as much as I wanted the two tube design to work, it was just too heavy and awkward to move on the mounting setup I had,which was based on Dave Trotts 6 incch hinged binocular frame. This lightweight skeletal framework version works, is a pleasure to use compared to the tubed version, relatively easier to move, and a lot easier to co-collimate.