turning rings for LXD75 8" S/N

[Arthur Alchin]

I have been looking worldwide for some info on "Rotating Rings" for equatorial mounted Newtonian type scopes, they appear to alleviate the need to be an acrobat when using your scope as the tube can be rotated quickly to allow the focused to remain at the side and not upside down for example.

Has anybody any ideas of how these could be fabricated both locally and cheaply as a set of commercally availably rings that I think would possible suit my scope are in excess of $US400.


Arthur

[MadMonk]

This is my first post here -

recently came across this article, which may be a solution to your problem:
http://www.cloudynights.com/item.php?item_id=554

TR

[GReilly]

Hi Arthur,
Another thought I had while eating Yum Cha are the "lazy susan"s you see in Chinese restaurants. The trick is in finding one the right diameter to match your tube!!
Sorry! just a thought!
Greg

[ballaratdragons]

Here is an idea I put in Cloudy Nights. It works well:

http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=atm&Number=957618&Forum=f67&Words=paint%20%20can%20locking%20ri ng&Searchpage=0&Limit=25&Main=957618&Search=true&where=bodysub&Name=15563&daterange=1&newerval=2&newertype=y&olderval=2&oldertype=w&bodyprev=1#Post957618

[OneOfOne]

I think the comercial rings you are talking about are the Antares rings? I enquired about them last year, a few months after they were first advertised. The last time I checked they were still unavailable as they were having some sort of problem with the locking mechanism which stops the tube rotating. Tubes for my 8" were about AU$400. Something like this would be perfect but of course are expensive. Another company, Parallax, also make rotators which ARE available (from the US) but are more expensive, you might like to google them to get some ideas.

If you try the idea on CN, let me know how it goes.

One problem with rotating the tube will be that it will throw the balance out a little bit, particularly if you have heavy eyepieces (Pentax, Tele Vu etc.) so you may want to consider some way of balancing them too.

[JohnG]

I don't know whether you have looked here at Parallax Instruments or not but they have had rotating rings for years.

http://www.parallaxinstruments.com/ring.htm

Cheers

JohnG

[ballaratdragons]

The principle behind the lock rings I posted in here and Cloudy Nights is that you put one either side of your fixed rings. With the fixed rings loosened, the tube can rotate, but the lock rings stop the tube from sliding out.

Those srcrew-up ones in the Cloudy Nights link by the other bloke do exactly the same thing, but the Paint Can ones I suggest are easier to put on and off or adjust, and have a duel purpose, for when removing your mirror. :thumbsup:

And they are cheap, or free.

[Arthur Alchin]

Thankyou everyone for your replys, the paint can lid rings sound like the way to go. I will go down and see RU paintin on my days off and look at what they have.

I guess if the rings have a diameter a bit bigger than the tube then that can be spaced out with come flexible flat strap of some description (eg nylon or pvc): all sounds to simple but very practicle

Take care

Arthur Alchin