Putting the HEQ 5 on a pier

[xelasnave]

The pier is not a problem but the bit between the pier and the mount is...in the past I made these sort of things but there must be something I can buy..any pointers?
Alex

[LewisM]

https://skywatcheraustralia.com.au/product/heq5-pier-tripod/

Remove casters, bolt it to the concrete. Done :)

[Startrek]

Alex
I found this HEQ5 pier adapter from Altair Astro in the UK

Cost was around 79 pounds sterling

Surely there’s a 3 party supplier in Australia ?

Martin

[LewisM]

https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/language/en/info/p8594_Lacerta-Concrete-Pier-Adapter-for-Skywatcher-mount-EQ5.html

Why not ask the local pier guy: http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=177650

[Startrek]

Missed one photo
Here it is

[xelasnave]

Thank you Lewis.
Alex



Thank you Martin
Alex



Thank you Lewis
Alex



Thank you Lewis
Alex

I am surprised that whatever I do it will be what I consider expensive.
So I may as well cut the legs of the tripod to fit and just set them in cement...or make a unit out of glass reinforced ply..or a piece of box steel ... But I have to do something very soon the observatory is at the stage where the piers need to go in...
In any event thank you both for your help I did not know of any of the suggestions so at least I now know.
Alex

If I had the power I could weld something..maybe I will have to build it in Sydney..the ply approach seems the best so far.. low thermal whatever...easy to bolt on switches and stuff...I will design something later ..maybe incorporate a drink holder...
Alex

[Merlin66]

Alex,
I mounted my NEQ6PRO head on the SW 200mm extension, the extension was mounted on the 1.7m steel pier using a M12.5 center bolt.
Worked well for me over the past six years.
Hope this helps.

[Ukastronomer]

You really are a DIY'er aren't you :) :)

[doppler]

Alex, here's my solution. A couple of square plates holes drilled and a wooden spacer for the mount to sit in, there is a central hole in the plate to bolt the mount down. The bottom plate is welded to the pier. The plates I used are cantilever umbrella bolt down bases, pre drilled and threaded.
https://theshadecentre.com.au/product/shelta-san-remo-onground-base/

Rick

[Sunfish]

$20 worth of scrap 8mm aluminium plate, some stainless bolts and countersunk screws from below. You do need a recess in your pier top plate for the centre bolt and a very solid 12mm overhanging pier cap plate on 80 mm solid bar. (If you wish to bolt from below but I suppose you could tap the plate.)

Cutting a 60mm hole in the plates is the fun part.

[xelasnave]

Yes. Once if I wanted something I had to build it cause many things I wanted did not exist or were unaffordable...and I enjoy it from a creative point of view..like art I guess..and you are not too bad at it ...mmm let me count up the projects of yours I know of...
Alex



Thanks that helps.
Alex



Far too flash Ray. Very nice but I have no where to get plate easy.
But I am getting ideas.
Alex

[LostInSp_ce]

Alex, a block of wood got me by until I had the time to make something up. It might not look pretty but it did get the job done.

[Ukastronomer]

Me too I have learned a LOT of DIY since coming here

This

http://www.spacegazer.com/index.asp?pageid=97497

and This

http://www.spacegazer.com/index.asp?pageid=97486

[pmrid]

Alex, I was able to get hold of a HEQ5 tripod and with the legs removed, I was able to attach it to a pier. I managed to find a photo of the offending article in situ before I sold the farm and moved into the 'burbs. It worked well enough. The trick was to attach it to the pier and for this I improvised some small bit of aluminium out of a one-inch profile. It wasn't pretty but it did work.

Peter

[xelasnave]

:thumbsup:

Alex



Thanks Peter.
Last night I came up with what I think will be my approach...but now I have some holes to dig...maybe today but I have been up for hours painting and I am really tired...
Alex

[pmrid]

Cheers Alex,

here are a couple more pics I took for you. I note that you have already settled on a course of action but rather than waste these pics, I will attach them for the amusement of others.

Peter

[xelasnave]

Sorry for the delay in a reply.
First I thank you for going to the trouble of taking the photos and posting them.

What you show is really what I would like to do but it requires that I buy a welder, not a problem, but would have to build it in Sydney..anyways the more I have thought about it the more I have convinced myself that the ply and fiber glass overlay will do the job.
I mix black tile grout in my final layer of resin and lay a sheet of paper over the wet resin to produce a very smooth surface..so it should be strong and aesthetically pleasing...I will use two layers of form ply..which I have already rounded up.
Yesterday I took measurements and just about ready to start...
Alex