Lightbridge Updates

[astronut]

Hi Everyone, Here are some of my improvements to the LB 12" Deluxe I purchased last week.
It hasn't had first light yet I'm waiting on my collimator to arrive, maybe Friday. The tube rings needed to be painted black and the top and inner part of the trusses needed to be made black. here I used short hair black felt.
After reading the problem that others in the U.S. had with collimation ( every time you collimated and then set the lock screws it would knock out the adjustment) I decided to replace the collimation springs with something stiffer. After a marathon effort, I finally found a place in Newcastle that would sell compression springs.
This eliminates the need for the lock screws and it keeps collimation well.
I'll post a first light report soon, in the mean time here a few photo's I've taken of my new baby.
P.S. I'm in the process of making dew heaters for the eyepiece, and the fan fan will also be controlled by a fused and switched box where the eyepiece rack should be.

[Photon]

Hi John,
Thanks for posting some pictures. I'll be very interested to hear your first impressions. Is it simple to assemble/disassemble? Does it require a collimation check each time?
Regards IanG

[Astroman]

Great info on the mods, what type of springs did you end up getting, there maybe other sources out there for them, lke universal springs or similar.

BTW the black and grey inside the tube looks very sexy.

[slice of heaven]

Good pics there John, still catching up with the new Lightbridges, good to see the ins and outs of these.

The heavy springs are a god send for collimation, good mod.

The scope looks very GSO'ish , just wondering if the Lightbridges optics may suffer from the same pinched optics as the gso do?

[janoskiss]

John, Does yours also have the altitude bearings riding on felt pads instead of teflon? (.. like the 8"-er I saw at Bintel today...?)

[iceman]

Good point SOH - John did you check for pinched optics (primary and secondary)?

[astronut]

I had the scope out very briefly last night and with rough by eye collimation I was very impressed with the performance. I was going to flock the scope but after seeing the good job done with the paint ( it's actually black not dark grey) I have left this for somewhere down the track.
The altitude bearings run on felt, I think all deluxe models have this and the std model has teflon pads.
I readjusted the tension on the mirror clips ( they were screwed down tightly, for transport I suppose ) and in the brief look couldn't see any negative effects.
Springs were from Century.
Assembly/disassembly is simple and easy, especially compared to setting up my giant Unitron 4" refractor.
Collimation appears to be only slightly affected with each rebuild.
The build quality is excellent, I can definately recommend this line of scopes to anyone that wants maximum "bang for your buck"

[slice of heaven]

I'd buy one on looks alone:) They definitely win in that department.
Wonder if someone will bring out a conversion kit for the solid tube GS scopes ?


What's the movement like for tracking, do the alt/az movements match each other in terms of ease. What have they used for the az bearing ?
Sorry for all the questions.

[ving]

Oooo!!! Ahhhh!!!
:D
that looks like a great scope! :D

[astronut]

S.O.H. The deluxe has roller bearings ( like a lazy susan) but with one big difference, it has a tension adjustment on the base board. The std has teflon pads. Don't worry,I'm happy to answer any questions I can.:)
You'll have to sell the solid tube and come over to the truss side:lol: :fight:

[slice of heaven]

I would love to :lol: but finances probably wouldn't allow it. A conversion kit though would have me grabbing the toolkit quicksmart.:D

Good to see a great package brought out with a bit of thought put into it like Meade have done. Hope you get some clear steady nights for some good viewing.

[janoskiss]

The Deluxe has felt and the standard has teflon?? That sounds back-to-front to me. :shrug: Felt tends to have backlash in my limited experience. How are you finding it?

[astronut]

Steve, The aluminium alt bearings glide beautifully on the felt, no stiction problems:)

[janoskiss]

I've split norm's response and discussion about collimation tools to a new thread: http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=8851

[vespine]

I caved. Check new sig :D

[astronut]

Vespine, You have succummed to the dark side........I mean the Light( bridge ) side. Feel the Force:fight:

[vespine]

I got about half an hour of viewing in last night before it clouded over, then I spent about another half an hour just looking at and touching my scope ;) Such an impressive piece of kit!

As for the first light report; well, lets just say my next post is going to be in the other "collimation thread" because contrary to what I was told (but didn't actually believe), I think my scope definitely needs some attention in that department! Star testing was poor.

[astronut]

I've had my scope for 10days and it's had 10minutes of observing, mainly due to all the mods I've made. Oh well, hopefully proper first light next week.
If the collimation springs give you trouble ( too soft ) I've found a local ( Newcastle N.S.W.) supplier that has the better stiffer springs.
Boy has this been a steep learning curve!!!
I do the same, it sits in the lounge room with me looking at it like a teenager in love;)

[spacezebra]

Hi All

Wow!!!! Three nights of solid observing at SPSP. Performance- fantastic. Bintel Guru's had positioned themselves right next door to our site on the observing field so I had great collimation advice. The nine hour drive shook things up a bit - but all was well by Friday night.

Final night only needed slight tweeking and I collimated all by my self, Yeah!!!!!

What a great first scope!!! M42 wow!!! LMC and all it had to offer, wow!! I was all over the place - could not get enough!

More later - a bit tired after the drive.

Astronut - looking at your modifications with keen interest - and very impressed. Will be attaching a finder scope very soon as per Roger's (Bintel Melb. And looking at some custom boxes - as per Don's (Bintel Sydney's) advice.

More later
Cheers Petra