First stage of my home Observatory

[Blaznee]

While the building approval for my observatory is being processed I thought I would have a go at making a pier.
$120 for materials cut to size then a bit of welding, grinding, drilling and painting. I am quite pleased with the result
Next step will be the concrete slab, then erecting the C2 (Cyclone rated) shed.
I shall post again when the next stage is completed.

[jahnpahwa]

Looks super neat, well done!

Did you fill it with sand or anything else?

Looking forward to the next installment :thumbsup:

[Blaznee]

The tube section is 165 x 6mm black pipe so it wasn't necessary to add any extra ballast......I can barely pick it up as it is.
I'm going to make a second one that will be outside of the observatory for the Lunt solar.
I have just received building approval (not easy to get in a cyclone area) so hope to start work on the slab in about 5 weeks.
I will post progress photos once it's completed.

Cheers
Gary

[glend]

In relation to sand in a metal pier, here is a quote from an archived thread here at IIS:

"Adding the sand adds mass which lowers the natural frequency of your pier.

For a given vibration energy, a high frequency vibration has a smaller amplitude than a low frequency vibration. Adding the sand gives a larger amplitude of vibration than without it.

There may be anecdotal evidence that sand filling helps to dampen the vibration more quickly, but that's of little value if the first movement is enough to blur your image anyway.".

See the original thread here:


http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/archive/index.php/t-146710.html

Check Sheeny's post in that thread.

[bigjoe]

Added sand and some small lead pieces to some old 2 inch hollow SS tripod legs once worked a treat for weight and dampening +1
Bigjoe

[Blaznee]

Thank you for you input Gents.
I shall look at using Garnet blasting grit as it wont attract moisture or corrode the steel.

Gary

[Blaznee]

Retaining wall and slab construction on schedule.
Should be completed mid May.(weather permitting)

[bojan]

I think those screw are too long.. you don't need them really, as leveling can be done with mount itself.