8" f/4 truss dob traveller - mark 2

[janoskiss]

It's late, I'm tired, so just some pictures.
First some shots of the finished scope.

[janoskiss]

Here we have:
- all the bits that make the scope.
- the OTA as she travels. (400g can of corn for size comparison)
- the OTA assembled without altitude bearings
- ground board partially assembled
- ground board fully assembled
- spacer and pivot bolt in place
- LP vinyl slides on magic sliders (CD is a spacer too)

[janoskiss]

Putting the Dob base together.

[janoskiss]

Closeup on alt bearings and tension/friction adjustment setup. There is one on each site. It works well with ebony star like (smaller dimples) laminate on the side walls and vinyl sliders under the 40mm PVC flange piece.

[janoskiss]

one last shot for now. down the throat of the beast. I think I'll call her little hubble... :)
... btw. no shroud yet.

[Astroman]

Looks great Steve, well done.

[iceman]

Make sure this turns into a DIY how-to! :) Great job!

[janoskiss]

Knew you were going to say something like that Mike... :lol: In brief: lots of cuting and drilling, bit of glueing... :P :D

[astro_nutt]

Lots of blood, sweat and tears too I'll bet!!!...but the result looks impressive!!..don't forget to put your name on it!!

[ving]

i'd have thought you'd have made the base collapsable :confused:

look really good tho steve :thumbsup:

[janoskiss]

It is Vingo! The panels are held together with nuts and bolts and aluminium L pieces. At least as sturdy as permanent joins. It was a painstaking process drilling the holes in the L-pieces and the panels: partial reassembly and disassembly between each hole drilled to get them just right so everything is a precise snug fit.

15 roofing bolts and wing nuts are used to disassemble/reassemble the rocker box. Disassembles into flat panels that go in the suitcase.

[stringscope]

Looks really good Steve. Congratulations.

Cheers,

[Lester]

Hi Steve,

I don't know much about Dobs. But watching yours come together looks very impressive. Should be great for wide field touring of the cosmos.

[janoskiss]

First mod is underway. Ditching the LP vinyl and the furniture sliders. Did not work well and because it was loose (because I was not 100% sure I want it there permanently) it introduced a fair bit of wobble. Cementing dimpled laminate to base plate right now.

Hopefully Roger still has teflon pads!

btw. alt bearings work surprisingly well! Very happy with them.

[EzyStyles]

im glad it all went well for the dobbie Steve. arhh i miss my scope... i know it is in good hands.

[janoskiss]

But you've got your new grey friend to keep you company now Eric. :D I'd be curious to compare the performance of the optics in the two scopes at mid-high power in good seeing. I'm guessing mine would be Synta, vs GSO in yours.

[Roger Davis]

Yep, still have the teflon.
I see that you have discovered the vibrational differences between aluminium and plywood? Never liked records as bearings. Fifteen screws? How long is the set up time?

[janoskiss]

Thanks Roger, you just saved me a phone call. :) See you soon.

[EzyStyles]

im sure synta and GSO are the same company? correct me if im wrong. My one is the version2 version of it everything is the same besides 2 inch focuser, 4 vain spider and different colours. im sure i read it somewhere synta and gso are the same company *shurgs*

[janoskiss]

synta is a different company in mainland China to GSO in Taiwan.

[ving]

how long does it take to set up from dismantled steve?

[janoskiss]

The OTA might take 3-4 minutes and the base another 3-4, so I'd say under 10 minutes from suitcase to observing. But I did not really think of setup time being an issue, whether it's 5 minutes or 25, after a 20 hour flight! Also ... once assembled, it's not likely to be disassembled until I need to get back on a plane again. Mirror box and secondary go in carry-on luggage, the rest in the suitcase. - just no one mention lost luggage! :scared:

[EzyStyles]

arhhh i see i see. :)

[ving]

very cool mister :D

[astro_nutt]

Very,very neat set-up..just a thought..do you have the scope components in the suitcase heat sealed in plastic bags before departure?...and have some photo's of the scope fully assembled just in case the customs guys get a bit sus!!..sorry if I sound a bit paranoid..but you never know!!