ROR Dobservatory Build

[Allan]

I finally got started on my dobservatory build this week for the 32". I've been thinking about this project almost as long as the telescope itself. The big scope is no problem to get out and set up, even though it weighs 191kg. But I find the least enjoyable part of observing is packing everything up at 4am in the middle of winter when there's ice stuck to everything. Having the observatory is going to be a treat, as all you obs owners already know.

I expect it will take me a few months on and off to finish the build, so I'll post a few photos of the progress as it happens. I'm enjoying the cool temperature much more than the extreme heat wave I endured during January while building the shed on the property. Between that and the brown snakes, I'm surprised I'm still here.

[Allan]

Everyone needs a before photo to see where the journey started. It took me two years to finally settle on this spot in the yard.

[Allan]

It took the Dingo 8 hours to dig the 39 holes. The ground is like concrete, but at least it forms a strong foundation for the structure.

[Atmos]

Looking forward to it :P

[Allan]

First few days of progress. The obs is elevated 800mm to get out of the near ground seeing effects which the big telescope is more sensitive to. I'm going to build an isolated pad for the dob to sit on, which will be 50mm lower than the floor height, so drops the eyepiece height a little more.

The floor system is posts set at 700mm to 1000mm in the ground, then bearers and joists attached with some nice James Hardie 22mm Scyon exterior floor sheeting. The dob pad flooring is going to be 18mm compressed concrete sheet. All the materials have very low thermal mass.

The sidewalls will be 900mm high so the dob can see over it. I'm making a steel frame roof and sidewall that will roll off the 900mm high timber wall. I got a great idea from an engineer friend in the US who built a ROR obs. He used roller bearings located inside ezy strut channel as his ROR system. I like the idea because the roof is captive and can't separate from the base of the obs.

[Allan]

Good enough reason for another long drive Colin.

That's all for now. More photos in a week or so.

[glend]

Great progress Allan. I can imagine how cool it's been out there. :thumbsup:

[Allan_L]

Sounds amazing Allan :thumbsup:

[Kunama]

Looking good Allan, keep the pics coming. Are you there for a few days of hard labour....

[Fizics]

Good to see the progress Allan. Seems you have moved the location to behind the shed or has all the grass died off? I have heard the drought is bad out that way.

[Allan]

Matt, I think I’m going to be here for a few months hard labour, just looking at the size of the project.

John, yes I moved it over by the shed, I settled on there as the best spot.

[glend]

Allan is that the spot where the pile of dirt was, behind the shed? Or on the "imaging field", haha?

[Allan]

It’s very close to your imaging field Glen, so I might have to find you a new spot next time.

I started on the dob pad today, in the centre of the observatory. I’ll build that while I have room and then lay out the joists around it. The four big posts are almost one metre in the ground and have used 400kg of concrete. It feels very solid, and I hope the view through the eyepiece is the same.

[Allan]

Another week of building completed. I can testify that it is still fairly dark and very, very cold at 6:30am when work begins. I'm also reviewing my labourers rate as I think he's been slacking on the job.

[Allan]

The dob pad took two days to build, by the time I got the four big posts concreted in the ground with over 400kg of concrete, and then all the frame work constructed around it. I've carried this idea around with me for a couple of years now, and I'm happy it's turned out so nice and solid.

[Atmos]

I think your labourer needs a Scooby Snack.

[Allan]

Is that like the dog version of the Snickers ad?

[Merlin66]

Allan,
Just read about the captive wheels in C channel...
I used this up at Heathcote and I use it successfully on the Mainsail ROR which houses my NEQ6/ C11.
Recommended.

[theodog]

Nice progress, looks good & at least one of you is keeping fit during construction.




Sort of like a very large version of slides for car/camper fridges are a great idea.

[Jen]

Awesome Allan how exciting is it 🤪🤪 I look forward to watching your progress 👌👌👌good luck buddy :thumbsup:

[Allan]

I've been chipping away at the observatory over the last months. It's been a big job so far, with over 3 tons of concrete used to secure the posts into the ground. That's all completed now, so the build is speeding up a bit now. The floor is fully sheeted and the walls are almost finished so I'm getting closer to installing the roof frame on top of the walls. A few more photos to follow.

[Allan]

The isolated dob pad completed with the bearers and joists also finished, ready for the flooring.

[Allan]

I sheeted the dob pad with 18mm compressed concrete. It's very strong, and heavy. I left a 20mm gap between the dob pad and floor joists, to avoid any vibration transfer to the dob. I sealed the gap with 20mm open cell foam to keep the dust and critters out.

[Allan]

The floor sheeting going down showing the recess for the dob. The dob pad is 50mm below the level of the floor. Every little bit helps when trying to drop the eyepiece height.

[Allan]

The completed roof frame. It will roll on the sidewalls using roller bearings located inside c-channel. More photos about that when I get to it.

[glend]

Hi Allan, nice to see the progress photos. How are you actually going to get that heavy Black Widow into the hole? Is it going to be disassembled and reassembled inside the opening from above? Obviously it does not need the base roller wheels anymore. Just trying to get my head around how it will work. Fascinating.

[Lee]

Looks great, following.... The standard of workmanship looks excellent.

[Allan]

Hi Glen. This is a shot from the front. The door will locate between the two posts at the front. I'm going to pull the dob apart and give it a big clean up, and then roll just the base up some ramps I have. The door is designed so the dob will just slide through the opening on its wheels. Once it's inside and on the pad I can put it back together.

[Allan]

Thanks, I see you have a ROR obs too.

[Lee]

Yep - I could squeeze a few of mine inside yours.... :lol:

[Allan]

Its been a while, but I managed some more building of the dobservatory. Sadly I haven't managed to avoid the build running into the heat of summer which I was really hoping for. Only had one curious brown snake come check it out so far. I turned him into two 3 foot long snakes.

[Allan]

This shows how the roof attaches and rolls on the walls. I bolted C channel to the top of the walls. Roller bearings then roll inside the C channel and make the roof captive to the structure. I fitted a couple of 1" pins through all the channel and wall top plate and that prevents the roof from rolling.

[Allan]

The sheeting is starting to come along now.

[gaseous]

Looks amazing Allan, a fitting shrine for your scope. I wanted to give up astronomy-related jealousy for the new year, but you've ruined my resolution already!

[glend]

Looks great Allan! Is that your welding, or a local from Coolah? That pin looks like it could hold the wings on an A380 - substantial.

[Allan]

Sorry for ruining your resolution :)

[Allan]

There’s a good metal shop in Coolah, so the welding is their work. I was in there a few days ago talking to them about the door for the obs. Welding inside a 40 degree shed didn’t look like much fun.

[theodog]

Looks like it's coming together nicely Allan.:)

[Allan]

Thanks Jeff, yes I’m getting there. I’ll have you guys over when it’s finished.

[Allan_L]

Looks fantastic Allan.
A Well planned and executed project.
Cheers.

[Allan]

Thanks Allan, I expect you will get some use out of it.

[Fizics]

Great progress Allan! I had been wondering how close you were to completion.
Regards and happy new year,
John

[Allan]

Thanks John, I feel like I’m getting closer to finishing now.

[Jen]

I know the feeling 😱😱
Cheers to an awesome obs buddy 😍 mine is nearly finished too woohoo 😈😈😈🔭🔭🔭🍾🍾😈

[Allan]

I just re-read my initial post, and laugh at myself saying it will take a few months to build. Here I am 9 months later and I have finally got the dob into the observatory. It took me a few months to build the shed even though it is twice as big. But the observatory is more than twice as complicated.

I still have a fair bit of work left. Have to build the stairs into the obs and complete the electrical and lighting and air conditioning for climate control. Plus there's some more flashings to fit to seal everything from the dust. But the dob will be happy in there for now with its cover on keeping it clean.

I had my first night of observing in the obs, and it was very neat. Observing from a clean and flat floor is quite different to grass. I wouldn't have thought it would feel so different, but it's quite unique.

[glend]

Allan, great to see it is nearly finished. Plenty of room in there for furniture and the coffee machine.

[Allan]

I'm not into coffee, but a beer fridge may find its way in there.

[Allan_L]

Great to see it coming to life.!
Looking good Allan.
Very Cool!

[Allan]

Thanks Allan, I’m happy it’s almost done so I can do less work out there and more observing.

[Jen]

I know the feeling Allan mine started over a year ago and it’s still not finished 😖😖 but I have been operating in there for about 6months now 🤗
Isn’t it an awesome feeling to just walk in turn everything on and start imaging within five minutes 😍😍😍 it’s sooooo cool 👍👍

[Allan]

It's pretty nice Jen to walk around the observatory, so much better than observing from that grass rubbish :D

[glend]

And not have to worry about stepping on a brown snake eh?;)