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  #61  
Old 26-01-2021, 02:29 PM
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Observatory Mt Pleasant is open for business ....
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  #62  
Old 26-01-2021, 03:41 PM
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That really is the business. A Most excellent slice of Sky.
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  #63  
Old 27-01-2021, 03:42 PM
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Congratulations Bojan I can not tell you how happy I am to see you set up.
Alex
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  #64  
Old 27-01-2021, 04:00 PM
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Thank you guys for kind words :-)
Yes, it will be much easier now to do some more serious stuff - too complicated setups just have to be left undisturbed for prolonged time before the particular project is completed..

Last edited by bojan; 28-01-2021 at 09:45 AM.
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  #65  
Old 01-02-2021, 11:21 AM
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PKay (peter) gave me an idea for motorizing my ROR...
I will try to replace the 2" belt with two ~2.5 cm ones (separated with thin collar) or rope such that while one of them is winding, another one is un-winding.
I will also try to replace the handle with DC motor from hand drill (with its own planetary gear box and torque control).
Next week....
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  #66  
Old 01-02-2021, 04:22 PM
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Good luck getting something that works in practice can be difficult...I had many failures but it works well now...
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  #67  
Old 03-02-2021, 01:24 PM
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This is how it will look like..
I need to make the coupler for motor and spool where the strip will be fixed and wound.
Also, I may need to use smaller strip, 2x 25mm width is a bit tight fit.
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  #68  
Old 03-02-2021, 05:34 PM
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Spool core is made of wood...

I will split it, and then glue it around the shaft on the metal spool, mounting screw goes into slot.

This way it will be easer to fix both strips (even with small screws into wood if nothing else works).
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  #69  
Old 04-02-2021, 02:10 PM
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Hi Bojan,

Looks like a good solution. If I get your idea correctly, it's 2 counter wrapping straps around the hub connected to act like a long belt to which the roof is attached, so that you "simply" change motor direction (polarity) to open or close. The only thing I would be concerned about (especially with the tight fit crossways (2x25mm)) is that the 2 straps might snag, especially when one side of the spool is fully wound out and the other side fully wound in. In that case there may be a tendency for the wound up strap to slip off of itself and on to the other side. A barrier between both sides would prevent that, even through I can see there's not much room.

I also think it might be a challenge to get enough length of strap on to the spool, depending on how big your roof opening is, but I'm sure you'll nail it either way.


Another possibility might be a used (or new) garage door mechanism or sliding gate/door straight gear rack & motor.

Good luck

Best
JA
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  #70  
Old 04-02-2021, 03:35 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JA View Post
... The only thing I would be concerned about (especially with the tight fit crossways (2x25mm)) is that the 2 straps might snag,..

Yep, I plan to put barrier. I also found 20mm strap (Vardhman Threads, Auroa), ~1$/m.


Quote:
Originally Posted by JA View Post
... I also think it might be a challenge to get enough length of strap on to the spool, depending on how big your roof opening is, but I'm sure you'll nail it either way...
The lid travel is ~ 2.5 metres, and the original spool came with 6 metres of strap, that is why I put in that insert (ø40mm), to "even up" the spool diameter because it is dependent on amount of wound strap...

BTW, belt will be tightened only when fully opened or closed, in the middle the strap will be "limp" because fully wound spool will "use" more strap (because of wider diameter).
I plan to fully wound one side first with ~3m of strap when lid is open, then fix the end of the strap to the lid and then close the lid by hand, allowing the other side of the spool to wound.. then fix the other side.

This the plan.. We'll see how it un-wounds
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  #71  
Old 07-02-2021, 04:54 PM
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Waiting now for straps...
Arrived today.
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Last edited by bojan; 08-02-2021 at 04:06 PM.
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  #72  
Old 21-02-2021, 06:02 PM
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Yesterday afternoon and evening... not much done (it rained, on and off), but it is habitable.
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  #73  
Old 21-02-2021, 06:09 PM
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Excellent Bojan.... and a Juliette style balcony too

Best
JA
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  #74  
Old 21-02-2021, 06:21 PM
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Quote:
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Yesterday afternoon and evening... not much done (it rained, on and off), but it is habitable.
Oh wow that's a cool factor, excellent results from your hard work
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  #75  
Old 01-03-2021, 01:48 PM
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After some experimenting, it appeared the direct coupling of the drill motor would not be adequate.. so I decided to cannibalize the old hand drill that was doing nothing in the drawer for 20 years....
Gears were attached to shafts by means of threads (M12, 3/8-24).
Now working on the motor bracket...
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Last edited by bojan; 03-03-2021 at 11:35 AM.
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  #76  
Old 01-03-2021, 02:35 PM
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Great to see the obs in operation. What is the plan for access to the eyepiece? A step ladder or a platform?

I have one of those drills from around 1950. The Pope Falcon. Solid construction. I still use mine for tiny 1 mm drill bits.
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  #77  
Old 01-03-2021, 04:00 PM
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Ray,

it will be step ladder first, then platform.. which may be a safety issue because then some sort of fence will be needed.. it is not good to fall 1 m down in the dark
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  #78  
Old 02-03-2021, 06:57 AM
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A platform with a handrail sounds good. I have a second very tall pier which faces the same problem. Picking ladders with wheels, platform and rail are too expensive.
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  #79  
Old 09-03-2021, 02:05 PM
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Winch motor mounted on machined bracket...
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  #80  
Old 09-03-2021, 05:55 PM
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Bojan,
For my ROR I use a continuous cable connected to both sides of the roof, running over two pulleys and currently manual, but could easily be converted to a drive system. Basic and functional.
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