That's not a filterwheel....THIS is a filterwheel

[strongmanmike]

Made by Gerd Neumann of Astronomik for a telescope at La Silla, he made extra units in the manufacturing run, so he has a few extra filterwheels (http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/128630140/original) available for sale.

If you are interested contact Gerd direct: gerd@neumann.net (gerd@neumann.net)

Mike :thumbsup:
least I could do after he posted my ugly mug in the corner of his banner :lol:

[Kal]

I can't even think of 12 different types of filters that you could use :eyepop:

[rally]

Mike,

Is it ASCOM compliant ?
Any finished pics anywhere

Kal
Imaging - C,L,R,G,B,Ha,S2,O3,blank
Photometric U,B,V,R,I,
Other IR's1,2,3, Hb, ND's, CLS, Polariser

Then you can have variations in all the narrow band ranges

Cheers

Rally

[strongmanmike]

Hi Rally

I have emailed Gerd to confirm but as I said, best to contact Gerd direct if you are interested at all, he is not a hard sell type and is very helpful.

info@gerdneumann.net

Mike

[mill]

That is one bad a$$ filter wheel :P

[strongmanmike]

Yes they are ASCOM compliant

The finished units for La Silla will be completed in 2-3 weeks then the other units after that, time line for them is uncertain.

Hope that is useful info Rally? :)

Mike

[TrevorW]

I'm not as big as you Mike, no way could I lift that

[allan gould]

Have to admit thats the stupidest design for a filter wheel to load a large number of filters. Why doesnt someone think outside the box for a new design such as a slightly thicker holder wherein the filters flip out into the light path from a station on the side. Three stations and three filters would be enough and with good machining easier to do than having a great big blob of aluminium hanging off the back of your focusser. Just looks like bad design to me.

[strongmanmike]

You have a point Allan but I suspect the time and or money wasn't in this project to cover the R&D necessary to come up with such a design?

Gerd Neumanns enginering skills are first class so I am sure it must be adequate if La Silla have ok'd it..?

FLI's CentreLine (http://www.flicamera.com/cfw/index.html)(named by me incidentally!:D) is close to what you are suggesting.

Mike

[allan gould]

I guess that since it was going on a large, professional scope that could handle the weight - the proven design could just be scaled up. But putting that on anything else would be a nightmare. Having a look at the thickness of the cover plate , it would be in the order of 4-5mm. Boy thats a load of weight just there. Not to mention the large piece in the middle of the centre plate.
All that aside it does look a beautiful piece of aluminium.

[bmitchell82]

I think allan the reason why they have kept the original design is for accuracy of placement Vs cost of manufacture. I would say that if they where to move to the "CD Stacker" setup the cost would be insane for the accuracy required.

:) but in any case its designed for a MASSIVE OBS SCOPE :d where a 1000 dollar filter wheel is eclipsed by the $100'000+ mount + $100'000+ scope and the facility :D hahaha madness i says:thumbsup:

:D on another note Mike whats with you and big things.... :D Big scope, Big camera big mount now this :D and i thought your FLI FW was insane :D

[Benny L]

That's pretty impressive :O although it seems that our solar photographers are missing out :D

Enter the Daystar Solar System Filter Wheel:

http://www.daystarfilters.com/SolarSystem.shtml

DROOL!!