Advice needed on your not so typical rolloff roof design

[cventer]

I am planning a project to cut a hole in the roof of my flatroof garge and add a slide off flat roof section.

Kind of like this one here:

http://www.hiddenloft.com/obs/28obs.jpg
http://www.hiddenloft.com/obs/16obs.jpg

It needs to be flat and low profile just like in pics above

First Pic attached below shows the current roof and a rough sketch of where i want the rolloff to start from and Which direction the runout tracks will run

Seconds pic shows the problem i have with sealing this design from water.
Roof has gradual slope towards the camera and water runs down the corrugated grooves. The picture called sealIssue shows that gap b is what will need sealing somehow to stop water running into the garage.

Gap a does not matter as it just has runout tracks on top.

I was also thinking about roller options. 1st and 2nd are probably easiest and just involve grooved castors on some inverted T galv steel

Problem with this design is you will have to lock down the roof from inside somehow as nothing stops it lifting off

Last option is to have some wheels that run within a U channel section. Issue with this is lateral side to side movement will cause binding and may need side wheels to keep in place to stop binding.

so some questions.

1. What roller option have those who have done this sort of thing settled on and why ?

2. How would I go about sealing the gap b in the picture

3. What kind of timber is best for the runout beams (label B)?

4. What timber to use for roof framing that corruguated Gal sheet will sit on (label C)

4. What timber or clading should be used to protect the sides of the roof etc... to stop the weather getting in. (label A)

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

this is what I used Chris
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/a...se.php?a=49284
removed the original rollers and replaced them with pulleys. Works a treat

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

this is what I used Chris
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/a...se.php?a=49284
removed the original rollers and replaced them with pulleys. Works a treat

[cventer]

Thanks. Looks good.

I am wanting something a little more low profile though

Am leanign towards gate track solution like this:


http://www.newtower.com.au/gate-auto...d-above-ground

My main concern is that tis solution may jump of the track easier than a V groove running on angle like yours.

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

yes the overall height did concern me a bit at first but it only ended up about 125mm higher and I had no constraints as far as that was concerned. In fact it helped by allowing me to have a higher pier and still clear the scope.

I've got plenty of weight on mine so jumping isn't a problem. I'd wish I'd known of the In-Ground Sliding Gate Track System - Heavy Z, they look like the bee's knees. nice low profile though the bottom bracket would need to come off on my setup.

[cventer]

So I sketeched up the plans last week and bought the materials this weekend.

Plans attached for anyone interested in doing something similar

C Groove wheels and gate track were purchased at Gates Plus

http://www.gatesplus.com.au/wheels.html

Wheels I used are part number WH368, and I bought 8m of gate track

The prices included delivery in Melbourne

[cventer]

Managed to get a bit of the build started as well

1st pic is of the frame that roofing will sit on that will roll on the track

2nd is the frame above with insulation that sits under galvanised roofing

3rd is with galvanised roof sheets just layed over the frame and insulation

The structural pine was painted with 2 coats Dulux weathershield as well just to be safe.

[cventer]

Been a while since updated with progress

Its all done now and very happy. Rolls of with a push of 2 fingers.

Couple of photos of work in progress.

[cventer]

An finaly some pics of the scope setup ready for business.

Very pleased. I now slide open roof. Turn on power to scope, cameras etc.... Power up pc. Walk inside and start teamviewer on pc in the house and I can control everything from the house.

very satisfying project.

[cventer]

I have had my observatory now for a while and thought I would update on latest progress.

Rolloff roof has now been automated with a garage door opener integrated into Lesve Dome Controller software controlled by a Velleman 8055 board and a DCB-05 gate controler.

I also added an AAG Cloud Watcher as well as a scope position sensor to stop the roof from decapitating my scope.

The scope position sensor uses an Eaton Cutler Hammer Polarized Photo sensor model 1451E-6514 and a polarised reflector mounted to the underside of the Paramount MX Dovetail base.

It has an SPDT relay that is open unless the scope is in an exact location accurate to ab out 2 cm. Gate controller wont open roof if this sensor is open.

Brett Soames one of our members here is a guru with this stuff and setup the DCB-05 and Velleman with wiring for me.

Its a great system and now allows me to go to bed with AAG Cloud Watcher monitoring for Rain and High Wind. If it detects either the scope is parked and the roof closed.

Video of it in action here:

[gregbradley]

Wow, what a sophisticated setup.

Greg.

[CDKPhil]

That is a great setup Chris!
Nice idea having the sensors to stop any collisions.

Do you have a manual override in case of any motor failures?


Cheers

Phil

[cventer]

Originally Posted by CDKPhil

That is a great setup Chris!
Nice idea having the sensors to stop any collisions.

Do you have a manual override in case of any motor failures?


Cheers

Phil

Yes Phil. If things get stuck you can pop the garage door slider off the chain with a quick release button to manually move the roof. (same mechanism that hangs down from most automatic garage doors on a rope that allows you to yank rope to manually move the door.)

[Phil Hart]

hi Chris

Hopefully you're still watching this thread.

I've just ordered an AAG Cloudwatcher and the same wheels and track you mentioned. Hopefully will go down the Lesve Dome route too.

Can you explain what motor/gear track you got with the DCB-05 Gate Controller? Where did you purchase them? What about limit switches to confirm the open/close position back the Lesve Dome controller?

cheers
Phil